The 22nd international Flute Summer Course by Dutch flutist-composer Wil Offermans will be held from July 24th until 31st, 2013 in Sayalonga (Malaga), Spain. In this wonderful and inspiring ambiance and a climate of dynamic nature and cultural inspiration Offermans conducts the course, sharing his contemporary approach on flute playing with the participants. Registration is open for any flute student, flutist and flute teacher, and is a perfect way to get introduced to contemporary flute playing or to further extend your views and possibilities. Main material will be Offermans' etude book For the Contemporary Flutist (published by Zimmermann a.o.) as well as his flute solo pieces. Other topics include extended techniques like bamboo tones, harmonics, circular breathing, multi-phonics and whisper tones; sound development; body movement; improvisation in performance and education; ensemble playing; ethnic flutes. The course has been visited by flutists from all over the world. The total fee for the course, including all lessons, all the meals and the lodging in double rooms is 495 euro (also single rooms available). Maximum number of participators is 18. For more information and registration go to www.flutesummercourse.com.

Wil Offermans will take part in the 41st Flute Convention of the National Flute Association, which will take place August 8 - 11, 2013 in New Orleans, USA. The theme for this year's event is “Confluence of Cultures & Perseverance of Spirit” and it will feature spirited programming for solo and flute choir recitals, masterclasses and workshops, the NFA’s world-renowned competitions, and, of course, exhibitions galore. Offermans will perform Tsuru-no-Sugomori, some Thumpy flute, Dance with Me (with the National High School Flute Choir) and present a class on Honami and extended techniques.
His trip is sponsored by Wm. S. Haynes, Co, the Zimmermann Publishers and Kotato Flutes (bass and contrabass-flutes).

"The new CD Luna y Sierra arrives after a 10-year residence in Granada, in the heart of Andalusia in southern Spain. Its lively heritage of Moorish history, the world-famous Alhambra, the people and their love and joy for local cuisine, the flamenco, the poems of Federico Garcia Lorca, the sheep and goats strolling the mountainsides, the dynamic climate and nature of the Sierra Nevada… a scenery of pure mystery. While the world tends to drift towards a cultural globalization, it is truly fascinating to enjoy culture so near its roots. Evidently, Luna y Sierra is born from a local experience, though with a universal echo." - Wil Offermans The CD includes among others Offermans' interpretations of his compositions: Luna y Sierra, Tsuru-no-Sugomori, Dance with Me and the ensemble pieces Bamburia and Forbidden Valley (a unique quintet for bass-flute until double contrabass-flute). The CD is now available online for a special introduction price. Here one can also listen to various sound samples.

On April 7, 2013 Wil Offermans presented a Flute Day for about 40 flute students of the Harmonie Frisselstein / MIK at the art centre De Compagnie, Veghel, The Netherlands. After several workshops the day ended with a presentation concert, which included: Luna y Sierra, Kojo-no-Tsuki, Thumpy and Dance with Me. Click here to see the photo report. Click here to see the Dance with Me video.

From March 22nd until 24th the German Flute Festival of the German Flute Association (DGfF) took place at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg presenting an intensive program of wonderful concerts, workshops, competitions, exhibitions and demonstrations. Wil Offermans joined the festival and performed Honami, Tsuru-no-Sugomori and Thumpy, while also presenting a 6-hour workshop around Dance with Me and some of his other works. The festival website: www.floete.net

On March 9th, Wil Offermans presented a Flute Day for about 45 flute students of the Musikschule Oberwallis Visp at the Zentrum Missione Naters/Brig in Switzerland. After workshops in the morning, the day ended with a presentation concert including: Jungle Dance, Kojo-no-Tsuki, Thumpy and Dance with Me. See photos of the event here or go to the Photo Gallery page. Click the video image on the right to watch a video. Visit the Video Gallery page for more videos.

video Dance with Me            video Jungle Dance

On February 2, Wil Offermans presented a Flute Day for about 50 flute students from Veenendaal and Rhenen at the Music School De Muzen. After several workshops the day ended with a presentation concert, which included: Jungle Dance, Kojo-no-Tsuki, Thumpy and Dance with Me. Click here to see a photo report.

video Luna y Sierra            video Voices of Nagasaki           video Thumpy Song

Here are three new videos of the recent Flute Day concert in Luzern, Switzerland: 1/ Luna y Sierra, performed by Wil Offermans with 65 flute students. 2/ Voices of Nagasaki performed by the Flute Teachers Collective Luzern. /3 Thumpy Improvisation performed by Wil Offermans and about 25 flute students. See the Video Gallery for more videos.

video Dance with Me            video Labyrinth            video Luna y Sierra            video Jungle Dance

From June 25 until 30 Wil Offermans has been guest teacher at the 20th Flöjtmania (Flutemania) Summer Course in Kåvesta, Örebro, Sweden, next to Torleif Ander (initiator) and Anna Svensdotter.
You can watch several videos of the concert: Dance with Me, Labyrinth, Luna y Sierra and Jungle Dance (just click on the images above). See more videos at the Video Gallery page.
The course has been organized by the University of Örebro in Sweden. The course was running two parallel levels with Offermans intensively working with the advanced level. The course also included two concerts: a teachers concert on June 26th and a final presentation concert on June 29th. More info at www.flutemania.nu/Mani.html

Wil Offermans has initiated the new website For the Contemporary Flutist Online which offers extensive information and illustrated exercises related to the extended flute techniques, especially to his etude book For the Contemporary Flutist. The idea was inspired by the twelve articles he wrote last year for the Japanese music magazine Pipers. Each article focused on one etude and its extended technique. Also, the importance of the extended techniques as a modern and effective tool for all flutists is comprehensively explained. The website including some additional audio materials (video will be added later) and is available as a free online source for all flutists. The URL of the website is: www.forthecontemporaryflutist.com.

Music publishing house Zimmermann, Frankfurt, just released the publication of a new composition by Wil Offermans for flute ensemble titled Bamburia. The piece is for 1 flute solo, 5 flutes and 1 bass flute. Alternatively, the bass flute part can also be performed on a regular flute… A main element in Bamburia is the fascinating spanish flamenco rhythm: the buleria. …in the central part the flutists put their flute aside and perform the buleria-rhythm by clapping the hands… There are a few special techniques used like the 'tongue pizzicato' and the 'breath attack'. The piece is, of course like all the editions of Zimmermann, world-wide available through your local music store, but also online through the artist-run Studio E Online Shop. Click here to learn more about the piece, including video and score details.

video Bamburia            video Forbidden Valley            video Heike Duo

There are some new videos available of the recent Japan Xmas Tour 2011. This includes the world-premieres of Bamburia for flute ensemble; Forbidden Valley for 5 low flutes (from bass flute till double contrabass flute) and the Heike Monogatari Duo with Junko Ueda. You can watch these videos by clicking on the images above. See more videos at the Video Gallery page.

During the final weeks of 2011 Wil Offermans will be touring in Japan for several events. In the concerts of Dec. 23rd and 24th Flute Ensemble Piacere will be guest to perform with Wil Offermans the first official performance of his new flute ensemble pieces Bamburia and Forbidden Valley (Bfl, Bfl in F, Contra-Bfl, CBfl in F, Double CBfl). The score of Bamburia will be published very soon by Zimmermann, Frankfurt (it will be announced at this site). Forbidden Valley has been commissioned by Kotato Flutes.
19 Dec. 18:30-21:30: Wil Offermans Flute Fitness Ensemble Workshop, SpaceDo (Musical Instrument Shop DAC) JR-Shinookubo, more info and registration: www.flutefitness.com
22 Dec. 14:00: concert duo Ueda/Offermans at Kurihashi Wellfare House Kulimu, Saitama
23 Dec. 14:30: concert duo Ueda/Offermans at Kuki-shi Culture Centre Hall, Saitama, see program
24 Dec. 14:30: concert duo Ueda/Offermans at Miyoshi Culture Centre Hall Copisu, Saitama, see program

video Honami class            video Dance with Me            video Thumpy Song

November 25th-27th Wil Offermans was in Vienna, Austria for a series of teaching events.

• November 25th: masterclasses and workshops “Flute Music by Wil Offermans” for flute students of the Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst, Institut Franz Schubert, Vienna. See photos here.
• November 26th: Flute Day (including some masterclasses on music of Wil Offermans) with a final presentation concert at the music school Vienna-Meidling. Above you can find videos of Honami; Dance with Me and Thumpy Improvisation (click the images above; find more videos at the Video Gallery page). Click here to see the photo series.
• November 27th: masterclasses on music of Wil Offermans for flute students and teachers with some additional workshops at the music school Tulln, Nieder Österreich. See photos here.

video Tsuru-no-Sugomori            video Ilios            video The Journey Impro

A YouTube video page and gallery has been added to this website as an additional source of information concerning the compositions by Offermans (see the tab on the left sidebar). There you will find a selection of performances by Wil Offermans as well as performances of his works by various other artists. The selection will be updated whenever new videos will become available.

Wil Offermans joined a special project combining occidental and oriental troubadour art-styles in both music and poetry: Troubadours Caravane. The ensemble is created around the Troubadours Art Ensemble directed by Gérard Zuchetto. The project is organized by Trob'Art Productions.
- September 24, 2011 at the Culture Centre in Bagnols-sur-Ceze, France
- January 20, 2011 at Le Théâtre, Narbonne, France

The 20th international Flute Summer Course by Dutch flutist-composer Wil Offermans has been held from August 20th until 27th, 2011 in Sayalonga (Malaga), Spain with participants from countries like Spain, UK, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Poland, Mexico and Japan. In this wonderful and inspiring ambiance and a climate of dynamic nature and cultural inspiration Offermans conducted the course, sharing his contemporary approach on flute playing with the participants. Main literature was Offermans' etude book For the Contemporary Flutist (published by Zimmermann a.o.). Other topics included extended techniques like bamboo tones, harmonics, circular breathing, multi-phonics and whisper tones; sound development; body movement; improvisation in performance and education; ensemble playing; ethnic flutes. Click the photo image on the right to see a photo overview or click here to see an extended photo impression of the 2011 course.

Wil Offermans presented his concert and workshop at the Dutch Flute Festival of the Dutch Flute Society (Nederlands Fluit Genootschap) on 13 Februari, 2011 at De Muzerij in Den Bosch, Holland. Other invited artists were Peter-Lukas Graf and Felicia van den End. Click here to download the full day program in pdf-format.
Also Wil Offermans will be performing and teaching at the first Norwegian Flute Festival organized by the new Norwegian Flute Society on 24-26 June, 2011 in Tonehein, Hamar near Oslo. Other invited flutists include Wissam Boustany and Andras Adorjan, o.a.