Our organization would not be where it is today without the volunteer board members that keep everything running smoothly. Here are our current board members dedicated to building community through flute artistry and education!
Jennifer Kirkaldy – A/President
Jennifer Kirkaldy is originally from Edmonton where she began playing the flute at the age of 12. The flute quickly became a passion for Jennifer and she pursued that passion studying privately over the years with many of Edmonton’s talented flute teachers. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Music in Flute performance and Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta where she studied primarily under the tutelage of Shelley Younge. During Jennifer’s university studies she worked at the Bandstand Ltd. as a woodwind repair technician where she was the main flute and piccolo specialist for 10 years. Jennifer taught junior and senior high school music in Edmonton for a brief time before returning to the University of Alberta to pursue her Nursing degree. In addition to actively practicing as a Registered Nurse in Labour and Delivery, Jennifer remains a semi-professional flutist and teacher with a special interest in piccolo playing and performance.
Corri Allison – Vice President
Corri is the current EFA Vice-President and Director of Grants and Fundraising. She is an
amateur flutist and pianist who simply loves music. Corri spends her retired time playing in
concert bands, lessons, flute choirs, band camps and any other reason she can find to play with others. She is very excited to continue assisting the Edmonton Flute Association by continuing on in these roles.
Glynis Middleton – A/Treasurer
Glynis Middleton has played and taught the flute and piccolo in the Greater Edmonton area for many years. A graduate of the UofA’s Bachelor of Music program in Flute and Vocal performance, and an enthusiastic community player, Glynis has performed in choirs, opera, music theatre, orchestras, wind bands, chamber music ensembles, solos, duos, trios, and flute choirs. Flute playing has taken Glynis from Edmonton, across Canada, and New York to venues across Europe. Glynis has also studied orchestral and choral conducting under esteemed names like Malcolm Forsythe and Lenord Ratzlaff. Glynis hopes to continue tooting her flute for many years to come, a management consultant in finance and strategy by day and a flautist by night. Having run a successful bookkeeping and consulting business in the past, it is a privilege and a pleasure to give back to the flute-playing community by serving on the board as treasurer.
Kate McKie – Secretary
Kate McKie is a retired elementary music specialist and beginning band teacher, choral conductor, and flute player since grade 7. She has also been a vocal coach for musical theatre in the Shuswap, where she worked and lived for over 25 years. Returning to Edmonton during COVID meant no music, so a board position with EFA has been a great opportunity.
Liz Faulkner – Director at Large
Liz Faulkner’s avid flute & piccolo enthusiasm began 40 years ago. Playing with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra for 20 years has been the highlight of her career. Regularly playing piccolo/3rd flute, she has had the rare opportunity to perform solos and fill acting positions in the 1st & 2nd chairs with them. She holds B.Mus. & B. Ed. degrees from the U of A, and has performed with many ensembles. Her passions, aside from teaching music from her home, include her husband, delightful teenage boys…the dog & bird too.
Samantha Hunt – Director or Communications (Social Media)
Samantha is a professional flutist from St. John’s, Newfoundland where she studied with Dr.
Michelle Cheramy primarily. Upon graduation, she moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia where she
began teaching with the Halifax Regional School Board. In 2016, she successfully auditioned for a Regular Force flute position in the music branch of the Canadian Armed Forces and was posted to Edmonton in 2017. Samantha holds a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance as well as a Bachelor of Music Education from Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Jenny Sun – A/Director of Social Media
Jenny is a current student at the University of Alberta who plays the flute in her spare time and in the UofA’s concert band. She has been playing since the 7th grade and has participated in lessons, masterclasses, recitals, and a summer orchestra. With her experiences as a VP of Public Relations and VP External in the Stollery Youth Committee, as well as VP Social in the Neuroscience Students’ Association, she hopes to bring her current skillset into managing the EFA’s social media.
Karen Shields – Director at Large
Karen has enjoyed a distinguished 20 year career as a professional flutist/piccoloist with the Canadian Armed Forces. She has performed in numerous bands including The Royal Canadian Artillery Band (Edmonton), the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy (Victoria) and has had the opportunity to perform throughout Canada, USA, France, UK, and in 2012 toured New Zealand with The Royal New Zealand Navy Band. Career highlights include performing for Changing the Guard ceremonies at Buckingham Palace, commemorative ceremonies in France for the 75th Anniversary of the Dieppe Raid and the 75th Anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games opening ceremonies, and a Canada wide tour celebrating the Royal Canadian Naval Centennial. Ms. Shields has also appeared as piccolo soloist with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra and has been featured in recital on CBC Radio Two as a solo artist and as a member of the Flute Rhapsody Quartet and the Lodos Wind Quintet. Karen has also appeared on numerous CDs recorded by the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy during her tenure with the band from 2006-2017.Ms. Shields holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Flute Performance from Acadia University and a Master’s Degree in Chamber Music Performance from the University of Ottawa. In 2021, Karen completed a Master’s Degree from the University of Alberta, with a double major in Wind Band Conducting and Flute Performance. Karen is the recipient of numerous honours and awards including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Canadian Armed Forces Decoration Medal, and is the recipient of the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Master’s) awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for her research project entitled The Canadian Armed Forces: A Means to Promote Canadian Wind Band Music.
Zoe Hawnt – Director at Large
Zoe is a private Flute Coach and Voice Coach. She holds a Musical Theatre diploma with more than 20+ years of practical experience. She is currently a part-time student at Kings University (Music/Psychology). Zoe is happy to be part of Edmonton’s growing Flute community and looks forward to learning from and contributing to the EFA.
Dorie Gold – Director of Public Relations
Dorie Gold has been involved in the Edmonton flute scene for the past 20 years as a teacher and performer. She is a graduate of Capilano University, where she studied with prominent Canadian flautist and composer Kathryn Cernauskas. Prior to moving to Edmonton Dorie pursued her career in Vancouver and Seoul, Korea. She regularly performs in the Northern Lights Duo with guitarist Tyson Oatway.
Dorie is co-owner of Allegretto Music Studios where she teaches a group of enthusiastic students in her online and in-person studio. She is a proud member of the Alberta Registered Teachers’ Association and the National Flute Association. She is the Founding President of the Edmonton Flute Association and is very excited to return to the EFA Board as Director of Public Relations. When not engaged in flute-related activities Dorie can be found cooking, gardening, and exploring the hiking trails of Edmonton.
Edmonton Flute Association 