After graduating from The Bronx High School of Science, Judith Thoyer attended the University of Michigan and Columbia Law School. At both institutions there was little time or opportunities for playing the flute. After retiring as counsel and partner in the prestigious New York law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, she rekindled her love for the flute. Thoyer began flute study with Mary Barto who teaches at the Mannes School of Music Continuing Education Division. At Mannes, Thoyer plays in an adult flute choir.
One day Barto mentioned she had an aspiring flute student who needed some extra funds to attend a summer masterclass program. Thoyer realized that by forming a tax-exempt foundation she could, with support from other donors, provide financial help for many aspiring flutists.
The Friends of Flutes Foundation was born in 2010 and makes grants to flute majors in universities and conservatories who seek to become professional musicians and music educators. Since 2011, FFF has given 160 grants (ranging from $500 to $2000) to flute majors (BM, MM, DMA) and recent graduates from more than 45 universities.
The grants are designed to provide the extras a flutist needs to reach his or her goals. For example grants have been awarded to:
• Provide travel expenses to attend auditions for conservatory, university and orchestral auditions
• Participate in competitions in the United States, China, and Europe
• Advance non-classic flute music through flute programs in India, Peru, and Argentina
• Advance Baroque flute study at the Bach Soloists Academy in San Francisco and the Boston Early Music Festival
• Publish a book analyzing flute orchestra repertoire
• Attend masterclasses at Orford Center, Domaine Forget, Brevard, Sarasota Music Festival, Innsbrook Institute, and Aria International, Aspen and other summer programs.
• Complete degree recital requirements
• Provide performances by solo flutists and ensembles.
• Commission new flute music
• Provide instrument maintenance
FFF is a New York not-for-profit corporation and is exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to 501(c)(3) organizations are tax deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent permitted by law. If you wish to contribute, checks may be sent to: Friends of Flutes Foundation, Attention: Judith Thoyer, Paul Weiss LLP, 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York NY 10019. Paypal (including credit cards) is available through the website. If you wish to apply for a grant, application materials and information are available at: www.friendsofflutes.org
