The Flutopia Initiative, Inc.
Founded in 2012, the Happy Valley (State College, PA)-based Flutopia Initiative aims to inspire musicians to change the world, one concert at a time. With this premise, The Flutopia Initiative’s founder, Dr. Cathy Herrera, has organized dozens of concerts, as well as 5K races featuring musicians along the route, raising donations in the form of hundreds of pounds of food and thousands of dollars. Local benefactors over the years have included Central Pennsylvania's Centre Volunteers in Medicine, and the State College Food Bank, in addition to Doctors Without Borders.
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Beginning in 2015, The Flutopia Initiative’s efforts expanded to include creative events both nationally and internationally. Supporting food banks, providing funds for housing and medical agencies that work with people who find themselves in need, as well as for victims of domestic abuse, are among the projects taken on. Since 2016 the organization has taken advantage of the presence of thousands of flutists who attend the annual National Flute Association convention and has created inspiring charitable and educational concerts in the host city of each convention.
Proponents of cultural outreach, and literacy taught through musical education, The Flutopia Initiative has provided musical instruments, and musical opportunities in general to underserved people throughout the Americas and the Caribbean. “Tunes and Tales” is the title of a seven-concert series for young children, initiated in 2024 and designed to support literacy through music. It was created by The Flutopia Initiative’s founder for use at the Schlow Public Library (State College, PA).
Our motto continues to be, flutists inspiring musicians to change the world, one concert at a time!
How it All Started
The first musical charity event the Flutopia Initiative organized was the “Food Bank Falala”, a holiday-themed concert benefiting the State College Food Bank in December, 2012. Hosted by loyal Flutopia Initiative supporter and sponsor, Robert M. Sides Music Center in State College, PA, the “Falala” featured outstanding Central PA-based professional musicians.
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The Flutopia Initiative's anthem, "Play It Forward" by David S. Morris, was premiered at the first “Falala” in December, 2012, and has been performed at multiple Flutopia events.
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Additional concerts supporting the local Food Bank over the years have included the Winter Kaleidoscope Concert held at Foxdale Village Retirement Community, and a Play it Forward Concert held at Stone Church in Huntingdon, PA.
Playing it Forward Across the Globe
In March of 2015, The Flutopia Initiative held its first international benefit concert in Antigua, Guatemala. There, designated donations from previous Flutopia events went towards purchasing student recorders for La Escuela Proyecto la Esperanza (The School of Hope) in Jocotenango, Guatemala. Flutopia musicians from the trio Camerata Amistad (Cathy Herrera, Diane Toulson, and Brent Register) performed for the school, and Herrera gave music lessons to excited students who had just received the donated instruments.
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The Flutopia Initiative has also provided support to the Symphonik Ecole music program in Port au Prince, Haiti through donations of instruments and funds.
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Since August of 2016, the Flutopia Initiative has offered a national "Play It Forward" concert on the eve of the National Flute Association convention in its host city. Collaborating with convention attendees has afforded the Flutopia Initiative the opportunity to partner with ensembles such as the National Flute Choir of Mexico under the baton of Felipe Tristan. These performances allow flutists to leave a lasting positive impact on the communities that host the convention.