The National Flute Association (NFA) has announced that George Pope will be the recipient of its 2018 Distinguished Service Award. Pope will receive the award at the NFA convention in Orlando in August 2018. A resident of Akron, Pope is emeritus professor of flute at the the University of Akron and lecturer in flute at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory. He served as principal flute of the Akron Symphony from 1978-2002 and has played with The Cleveland Orchestra, Blossom Festival Orchestra, and the Brevard Festival Orchestra, among many others. Pope was a founding member of the Solaris Wind Quintet, which has released three CDs of American music on Capstone Records and Crystal Records. His additional recordings include projects with the Akron Symphony and the Blossom Festival Band. Pope is a founding member, board president, and flutist for the Chamber Music Society of Ohio. He also serves on the board of Tuesday Musical in Akron, where he chairs the organization’s Scholarship Committee.
In 2016 Pope and pianist Eric Charnofsky released Some measures for living. In his review for ClevelandClassical.com, Daniel Hathaway wrote, “This is a disc that will be inspiring for flutists both for its concept and execution, though its 73 minutes of sophisticated but accessible music should prove enjoyable for everyone. Its textures and styles are so varied that the ears never grow weary.”
The NFA is the world’s largest flute organization with approximately 5,000 members in 50 countries. Pope has served as its president, board member, program chair, chair of the Past Presidents Council, and member of many other committees. He has performed at the organization’s conventions since 1980, including as soloist in the Gala Concerto and Closing Concerts. Pope initiated and coordinates the Remembrance and Healing Concert, which has been featured in every NFA convention since 1997. — Hannah Schoepe