Marsha Wilcox Photography
2026 Summer Metropolitan Flute Festival Orchestra
22nd Annual Metropolitan Flutes Festival
July 9-12, 2026
Groton Hill Music Center; 122 Old Ayer Rd; Groton, MA
Facility – Groton Hill Music Center
For more festival details, please use the contact prompt at the top of this page. Festival will be held in the beautiful 1,000 seat Concert Hall.
Paige Dashner Long
Flutist, Flute Orchestra Director, Flute Clinician, Flute Adjudicator
Paige Dashner Long is an internationally recognized flutist, flute orchestra director, contrabass flutist and award winning composer. Currently Ms Long, an Altus Flutes Performing Artist, directs the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra in summer residence at Groton Hill Music Center in Groton, Massachusetts, and the Florida Flute Orchestra. As an active guest flute clinician and ensemble director, she has led workshops and directed flute ensembles for music schools in France, Germany and Mexico, as well as for universities and flute associations throughout America. She performs with the International Flute Orchestra, is the vice president of the International Low Flutes Society and is a recent chairperson of the Low Flutes Committee of the National Flute Association (NFA), a recent coordinator for the NFA’s Flute Choir Composition Competition, served on the executive board of the Florida Flute Association and is past president of the Greater Boston Flute Association. Her numerous original compositions and arrangements have won many national awards. Recently retired as the flute instructor at Daytona State College, she remains active with the Daytona State College Flute Choir, as a performer, and has stepped away as director.
As an active performer, Paige currently plays flute and harpsichord with the Daytona Solisti Chamber Orchestra and is the director of the Chamber Players of Palm Coast. As an international ensemble performer, Paige has presented concerts in Japan, Iceland, Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Greece, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Malta, Chile and Mexico.
As an accomplished composer, she is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and her compositions and arrangements can be found at Falls House Press, a subsidiary of Theodore Presser Company and ALRY Publications.
As a low flute specialist, she has been featured on CNN’s Great Big Story, FOX News Orlando and has written several articles for Flute Talk Magazine as well as for flute association newsletters throughout the country.
Paige’s flute ensembles utilize her extensive flute collection including piccolo, Eb soprano flute, concert flute, Bb flute d’amour, alto flute in G, bass flute, contrabass flute, the Kingma sub contrabass flute in G—one of three in the world, and the Kotato double contrabass flute—one of four in the world. This unique and exceptional instrumentation enables all of Paige’s ensembles to be beautifully balanced, as well as provides unlimited repertoire possibilities. To achieve this wonderful, lyrical, balanced sound, 50% of each ensemble is comprised of lower flutes (alto, bass, contrabass, sub contrabass and double contrabass).
Paige and her contraflutes were featured on CNN's The Great Big Story
Paige Long is a world-renowned flutist. She's also one of a small number of people who can play the three largest flutes in the flute family: the double subcontrabass, the subcontrabass and the contrabass. With tubing that stretches up to 22 feet in length, these instruments require a strong set of lungs to be able to carry a tune.
The 2nd International Low Flutes Festival 2020 in Urayasu, Japan, held Fri. March 20- Sun. March 22, 2020 at Urayasu Concert Hall.
2025 NFA Convention Fun in Atlanta, Georgia
During the 2025 National Flute Association Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, Paige premiered several of her newest compositions, as well as performed in many concerts.
When Mariana Gariazzo, the program chair for the 2025 convention, asked Paige to compose a piece for the closing concert, Paige immediately began thinking about possibilities. One thing she knows is that flutists like to eat ice cream or gelato, especially during conventions. Paige knew there would be “a lot of low” flutes interested in this performance and “Gelato Low” was born. Gelato Low, a sweet musical treat featuring “Ja lotta low flutes”, was premiered by 120 low flutists during the gala closing concert of the convention on Sunday, August 10. Also during this gala closing concert was Paige’s Celtic Contra Crush premiered by an ensemble comprised of 35 contrabass, sub contrabass and double contrabass flutes. There was not a single concert flute, alto flute or bass flute. (Both Gelato Low and Celtic Contra Crush are also great for traditional flute choir or low flute choir, quartets and quintets.) It was a fabulous experience and amazing sound to have Paige conduct the premieres of her two newest compositions during the closing concert!
In addition to leading an ensemble articulation workshop, Paige directed her Boston based ensemble - the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra, her Florida ensemble - the Florida Flute Orchestra and the PRO LOW Flute Orchestra.
Matthias Ziegler and Paige, playing double contrabass flutes, premiered her new duo “King Double Duo”, a duet for two low flutes of any size. Another one of Paige’s premieres was “Triple Twist”, a trio for low flutes of any size, featuring Kenneth Beauchamp, Victor Villarreal and Paige playing sub contrabass flutes in G, assisted by Tammy Roggen playing castanets.
NFA conventions are great opportunities to spend time with flute friends, as well as make new flute friends. The flute community is very grateful to Mariana Gariazzo, program chair and Cristina Ballatori, assistant program chair, for planning such an innovative and creative event.
Ali Ryerson, Chris Potter, Paige Long and Judy Diez d'Aux, the first four NFA Low Flutes Committee Chairpersons, after our premiere performance of Ali Ryersons "Four Us", commissioned by Judy.
Gelato Low premiere
Celtic Contra Crush premiere
Triple Twist rehearsal with Paige, Kenneth Beauchamp and Victor Villarreal playing sub contrabass flutes in G, assisted by Tammy Roggen castanets
Matthias Ziegler and Paige Long
Paige’s NFA 2023 Convention Escapades
The National Flute Association selected Paige to conduct the Beyond Borders Opening Flute Orchestra for the 2023 convention in Phoenix, AZ. With over 200 flutists, including 11 contra flutes, the Beyond Borders Flute Orchestra had just 4 hours of rehearsal time to present the opening 30 minute concert. Everyone brought their “A” game and the ensemble performed with musical excellence! What a thrill!
Paige conducting the Beyond Borders Flute Orchestra for 2023 National Flute Association Convention in Phoenix. 200 flutists, including 11 contraflutes.
Paige leading low flutes to a performance with the Youth Flute Day Ensemble during the 2023 NFA Convention in Phoenix. Photo courtesy of Tim Trumble.
Beyond Borders Flute Orchestra rehearsal, Paige Dashner Long director
Beyond Borders Flute Orchestra rehearsal, Paige Dashner Long director, at the 2023 NFA Convention in Phoenix. Photo credit National Flute Association.
Enjoy listening to the audio of this concert’s closing piece, Paige’s original composition Dancing Dessert Suite in three delicious movements – Chocolate Truffle Tango – Sacher Torte Waltz – Lemon Merengue Pie.
In addition to leading an intonation workshop and several chamber performances, Paige also conducted the PRO LOW Flute Orchestra, comprised of professional flutists who specialize in low flutes. The final piece for this concert was the premiere of Paige’s newest composition, Below and Beyond! for low flutes ensemble. (Below and Beyond! also is scored for traditional flute choir instrumentation, with both the low flutes and traditional flute choir music included in the printed music by ALRY Publications.) Many of Paige’s original compositions and arrangements were performed during the convention.
One of the best things about the Phoenix convention was being able to see dear flute friends, as well as to meet new flute friends. Big thanks to Ali Ryerson, program chair, and Debbie MacMurray, assistant program chair, for their hard work and dedication to this convention!