Ay Kawasaki is a versatile and accomplished flutist whose artistry and passion extend far beyond the concert stage. With a mission to make classical music accessible and inspiring, Ay is deeply engaged in performance, education, and community outreach.
As a performer, Ay has captivated audiences through performances in Cincinnati, Montréal, and Pennsylvania. Recent awards include winner of the 2025 Lynn Conservatory Concerto Competition with the Nielsen Flute Concerto, second prize in the Young Artist Competition for the Central Ohio Flute Association (2023), and second prize in the William Winstead Competition for Winds (2022). She currently is flute and piccoloist of the Palm Beach Symphony, and frequently performs with the Florida Grand Opera.
Ay’s commitment to outreach is exemplified by her founding of the Cincinnati Flute Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating and promoting musical opportunities in the Greater Cincinnati Area. She has won numerous grants and awards including the Inclusive Community Award from the University of Cincinnati, allowing her to organize chamber music and masterclass opportunities for K-12 students in the Greater Cincinnati Area.
Ay Kawasaki holds her Bachelor of Music from McGill University and her Masters of Music at the University of Cincinnati-- College Conservatory of Music (CCM). She is currently completing a Professional Performance Certificate at the Lynn Conservatory, and is thankful for her primary teachers including Jeffrey Khaner, Demarre McGill, and Carolyn Christie.
Anne Luetkenhaus is a dynamic flutist and educator based in Cincinnati, Ohio. As a graduate of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a master’s degree in Flute Performance, she is dedicated to contributing positively to the thriving musical community that Cincinnati offers. For the past three years, Anne has been inspiring Cincinnati flute students of all ages and backgrounds to share her love of the flute.
As one of the founding members of the Cincinnati Flute Society, Anne hopes to continue to be an advocate for music education for students across Cincinnati, especially those in underfunded and unrepresented schools. She hopes to create a network for local teachers to collaborate with one another, so that we can make classical music accessible and fulfilling for everyone.
Lauren Jett is a flutist and educator living in Cincinnati, OH, currently earning her DMA at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music under the instruction of Amy Taylor. Previously, she earned her MM from CCM with Demarre McGill, and her BM from the University of Alabama with Diane Boyd Schultz. Recently, she was awarded First Prize in the Cincinnati Flute Society’s 2025 Young Artist Competition, and was awarded third place in the 2024 COFA Young Artist Competition. Additionally, she received first place in the National Federation of Music Clubs Orchestral Woodwinds Collegiate Competition, and was named winner of the Ernest A. Bluhm Flute Award. She is a recipient of the Graduate Incentive Award (CCM), Rodgers-Dean Music Scholarship, Norwood Music Scholarship, and Alabama Band Scholarship. A previous member of the CCM Philharmonia Orchestra and Wind Symphony, she has also performed with the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, as well as in the University of Alabama Huxford Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Ensemble. Equally passionate about education and outreach, Lauren teaches private flute lessons in the greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas, helping flutists of all ages to achieve their goals, create progress, and have fun playing music. Her mission is to create a safe atmosphere of learning about music fundamentals and expression, body awareness, and reflection strategies to promote healthy learning and growth in her students. Previously, she was the administrative intern and teaching assistant at the Virtual Flute Music Festival, where she organized festival events and presented her lectures to students. In her free time, Lauren enjoys thrifting, reading, journaling, and exploring other genres of music for inspiration in her craft.
Yian Liu is a flutist, educator, and flute repair technician whose work encompasses performance, pedagogy, instrument care, and community engagement. She is currently pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts in Flute Performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she also earned her Master of Music degree under the guidance of Demarre McGill. She holds a Professional Performance Certificate from Lynn Conservatory, where she studied with Jeffrey Khaner.
Contributing to flute pedagogy and scholarship, Yian is preparing her first recording project, Eugène Bozza’s Fourteen Arabesques: Studies for Flute. This album is intended as a pedagogical reference for advanced flute students, addressing the technical and musical demands of these studies. Yian has participated in prestigious music festivals throughout the United States and Asia, including the Aspen Music Festival, Chautauqua Music Festival, and the Singapore International Music Festival. A prizewinner of the CCM Chamber Music Competition and the Winsted Solo Competition, she is an active performer who thrives in collaborative environments.
Dedicated to music education and outreach, Yian has served as flute faculty with the University of Cincinnati Bands and as Artist in Residence at The Greene School, where she contributed to building and strengthening orchestra programs. She is also a mentor with the Volta Music Foundation in partnership with Carnegie Hall, supporting public school music educators and expanding access to classical music education.
In addition to her work as a performer and educator, Yian is professionally trained in flute repair, having studied under Tim Bower. Her technical work includes clean, oil, and adjust (COA) services as well as full overhauls.
Through her combined work in performance, teaching, pedagogy, and instrument care, Yian Liu maintains an active and multifaceted career dedicated to musical excellence, education, and service to the broader musical community.
Brendan Boyle serves as an adjunct professor of music at Xavier University, where he conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble. His interests align with the growth and education of young musicians and fostering musicianship through ensemble interaction.
Boyle earned the Doctor of Musical Arts in wind conducting from the University of Cincinnati College--Conservatory of Music. During his studies, his primary focus was on the study and performance of chamber wind music, and contemporary music. He received master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. His primary teachers include Kevin M. Holzman, Timothy A. Paul, and Jack Stamp.
Boyle has worked as a teacher and conductor around the World. He served as a music teacher at the Internationella Engelska Skolan in Södertälje, Sweden. He has been a guest clinician for high school bands in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Ohio. He is also currently serving on an administrative role with the contemporary ensemble, Cincinnati New Music, for the 2024-2025 performance year. Boyle’s professional affiliations include the College Band Director’s National Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and the National Flute Association.
Boyle currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, with his wife.