The BFS Competitions are a chance for players to showcase their talent, receive feedback from top judges, connect with other musicians, and win brilliant prizes.

This year, we’re excited to introduce a new Flute Ensemble competitive class, and a video round for our Young Artist and Young Performer classes.

We’ll be returning to Royal Birmingham Conservatoire for a day of fantastic fluting - a chance to meet other players, listen to brilliant music, and gain valuable feedback on your performing from our expert adjudicators. What’s more, there’s wonderful prizes to be won - including the William Bennett Awards of £2000, £1000 and £500 for the winners of our three solo categories, and the Atarah’s Legacy Fund Memorial Prize, which awards up to £500 to support the musical education of a promising player.

Following on from the success of last year’s workshop, we’ll also be hosting an Adult Players' Workshop - a fantastic opportunity for members to play and learn together in a welcoming environment, explore new pieces, and receive advice from our knowledgeable workshop leaders.

Plus there’ll be trade stands with an array of flutes, accessories and sheet music - a chance to find your next flute, upgrade your kit or discover some new repertoire.

Entry will open on Sunday November 17 2024 and close on Sunday December 14 2024. Read on for the full details, including categories, rules, financial aid, and other important information.

Competitions Overview & Rules

We have prepared a Guidance Document with all the information you need to understand the Competitions categories and what you can get out of the day, as well as the rules and the ins and outs of technical requirements. Download this below:

Categories

Please read the Guidance Document carefully for further instructions and information about each category.

A. BFS School Performer

  • Performers aged 13 and under on 31 August 2025 and approximately Grade 5 standard

  • 6 minutes performance limit (including breaks between movements/pieces)

  • This category is first-come-first-served, with a waitlist

Following the performances for this category, competitors will have the opportunity to have fun playing flute ensemble music together in a workshop led by the category adjudicators, learning a new piece and performing it to an audience at the end of the day.

B. BFS Young Performer

  • Performers aged 14-18 on 31 August 2025 and approximately Grade 7 standard

  • 7 minutes performance limit (including breaks between movements/pieces)

  • The first round of this category is a video round, with shortlisted players then invited to the live final round on February 23 2025.

C. BFS Young Artist

  • Performers aged 19-24 on 31 August 2025 and Grade 8 or above in standard

  • 8 minutes performance limit (including breaks between movements/pieces)

  • The first round of this category is a video round, with shortlisted players then invited to the live final round on February 23 2025.

D. BFS Flute Ensemble

  • Ensembles of 3 to 10 players

  • 8 minutes performance limit (including breaks between movements/pieces)

  • This category is first-come-first-served, with a waitlist. Each player will sign up individually, stating the name of their ensemble on the application form.

Players from this class are invited to combine it with the Adult Players Workshop (at a reduced rate) in the afternoon to create a full day of fluting.

What should you play?

By giving free repertoire choice, the BFS encourages those taking part to explore the diverse and exciting range of music that we have available to us as flute players. This is your opportunity to introduce us to new pieces you’ve discovered, and those you love to play - and to shine a light on works by under-represented composers that you you want to be heard and shared with other flute players.

You can choose to play solo or accompanied repertoire, and there will be BFS accompanists available on the day (who you will book when you make your Competitions entry).

Adult Players Workshop

Following on from the success of last year’s workshop, this year we will again be including an opportunity for adult players to play and learn together in a welcoming environment. There will be a wide range of people to meet, repertoire to share, and things to learn with our great workshop leaders!

How to Enter

The Competitions entry form will go live on this page on Sunday November 17 2024. Entries will close at 11:59pm GMT on December 14 2024.

The deadline for applying for financial aid through our Sponsor A Player scheme (see below) is 11:59pm GMT on December 2 2024.

Entry Fees

All competitors must be a BFS member at the time of entry and on the day of the Competitions (23 February 2025). Individual membership is from £25 - £35 - to become a member, sign up via our Join Us page.

  • School Performer, Young Performer and Young Artist categories: £40

  • Flute ensemble class: £30 per member

  • Adult player workshop: £25 / £20 for flute ensemble class participants

There is an additional fee for the use of the BFS official accompanist of £25 (which includes a short rehearsal on the day). You can book this when you enter by selecting the option on the entry form.

Financial Assistance

Through generous donations we are able to offer a financial aid scheme to support players who wouldn’t otherwise be able to enter the Competitions.

To apply, please send a short statement explaining why you need assistance and a reference from your current teacher to competitions[at]bfs.org.uk by 11:59PM on December 2 2024. Unfortunately we won’t be able to consider anyone for financial aid after this deadline.

We will let candidates know the outcome of their financial aid application by December 7 2024. Please wait to hear back from us before submitting your entry.

Sponsor a Player

Our financial aid scheme supports flute players who wouldn’t otherwise be able to enter the Competitions due to the entry fee (plus cost of membership if not already a member).

All donations made via the initiative are ring-fenced for financial aid for the Competitions and, should there be any left over, for financial support for flute players.

The BFS is extremely grateful to all who have contributed so far. As a result of your generosity, as of 2024, sponsors have funded 15 players to enter the Competitions.

To sponsor part or the whole cost of a player’s entry, please click below:

Prizes

We will announced the complete prizes in due course, but are honoured to share details of our William Bennett Awards and Atarah’s Legacy Fund Memorial Prize below.

William Bennett Prize

The BFS are honoured to award the William Bennett Prize at the BFS Competitions for the second year. We are incredibly grateful to Michie Bennett for entrusting us with this legacy, which will enable us to award this prize for a number of years. As one of the founding members of the BFS, and our President for many years, we cannot think of a better way to commemorate Wibb’s extraordinary life and his profound impact on the flute world.

School Performer 1st Prize - William Bennett Prize of £500

Young Performer 1st Prize - William Bennett Prize of £1000

Young Artist 1st Prize - William Bennett Prize of £2000, and a performance slot at the Just Flutes Festival 2025

Atarah’s Legacy Fund Memorial Prize

Atarah’s Legacy Fund was established shortly before her death, according to her wishes to support the musical education of entrants to the Competitions through the award of a cash prize for a candidate of sufficient merit, musical integrity and potential. Musical integrity is something Atarah particularly wished to encourage, so the panel will be looking for a core musicality, rather than a display of virtuosity. The prize will be available to the value of £500 each year.

The recipient will not necessarily be one of the prize winners in the competition, and will be chosen by the competition adjudicators and BFS Council, where possible supported by members of the Fund Advisory Group. There will be one winner each year for as long as the funds are solvent.

Entrants wishing to be considered for the Prize should make their application using the Prize entry form (which will be sent to all competitors once they have made their entry), indicating how they would use the Prize to further their musical education, for example through lessons, music courses or other educational activities. Winners will be required to write a report for Pan, the BFS journal, on the benefit they received from being awarded the Prize.

Adjudicators

Our adjudicators will be announced in due course.

Testimonials from past competitors

  • Attending the BFS competition for the first time was a thrilling experience. I was amazed by the performances of all the participants and I met so many new talented friends during the competition, who all share the same passion for the flute.

    Despite feeling apprehensive, the supportive and friendly atmosphere put me at ease and allowed me to enjoy the day to the fullest. The BFS competition was a great experience that I will cherish and I am looking forward to attending again!

  • ‘I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to take part in the BFS Young Performer Competition. The comments by the illustrious judges were so thoughtful. As the 1st Prize Winner, I was awarded an incredible piccolo, and we are now inseparable! I would definitely recommend participating to my peers.’

  • ‘These fantastic competitions gave me such brilliant milestones to work for during my studies. It really boosted my confidence whenever I entered them - even when I didn’t win I got so much brilliant feedback, and then finally when I did win, it gave me so much more confidence - leading to my orchestral career’

  • ‘It was a big confidence boost for me, as I’d never really seen myself as someone able to win a competition like this, so when I found out I’d won it was a huge shock! It helped me to feel a lot more confident about my playing, as well helping me to focus on the things I still need to work on.'

  • ‘For anyone who is considering entering a competition, but doesn’t think they’re good enough or have enough experience, just go for it!

    Being a runner-up has given me a whole new wave of confidence, both personally and musically, and this carries through into my playing. I still get nervous when I perform, but I just remind myself of this achievement and my nerves soon turn into excitement!'

  • It was great to see other people’s playing, and from that, I learned a lot more about what I might be able to do to improve my own playing.

  • Competing in the event was like a concert - there were so many amazing musicians, the music was excellent and I loved performing and being a part of it.

  • ‘It was a joy to take part in a live competition at last and I was thrilled to be selected as the winner of the Young Performer category.

    I've made some great new friends in the flute world and that's what it is about!

  • ‘I won the Pearl Piccolo in this year’s BFS competition (2022). I watched the other Young Performers in my category and the standard of the playing was incredibly high so you can imagine how amazed and delighted I was to hear my name announced as the winner of the piccolo. Seeing all the performers and hearing new repertoire across the categories was really interesting. I also appreciated having the judges feedback.’

  • ‘Winning the School Performer Category of the BFS competition meant so much to me; it was such an amazing experience and it was great to hear so many talented players - thank you to everyone who made this fantastic competition possible!’

  • I received very valuable feedback from many areas - everyone really liked the piece and my interpretation - and supportive guidance from the judges.

Volunteer

To help ensure the day runs smoothly we will need some help. If you would be willing to volunteer some time at the event, please get in touch by emailing membership[at]bfs.org.uk.

FAQs

  • If you have a question that hasn’t been answered on this page or in the Competitions 2025 Guidance Document PDF, please contact competitions@bfs.org.uk

  • We will share the schedule for the day closer to the event; please note, the four categories will run consecutively throughout the day. We regret that it's not possible to choose your performance slot. 

    Please note that all competitors are required to attend the adjudication and prize giving at the end of their category and are expected to watch and support as many of the other competitors’ performances as possible around their own performance preparations. If this is not possible, please notify the BFS before the day of the competition by emailing competitions@bfs.org.uk.

    We expect all under 18s to be accompanied by an adult; if you're having difficulties with this, please get in touch.