DFG 3.0
Detroit Flute Guild
Mission Statement
Detroit Flute Guild 3.0 (DFG 3.0) is a small flute ensemble dedicated to outstanding musical performance. DFG 3.0 distinguishes itself by approaching music as part of the broader arts community and fostering participation in the arts by future generations. We support arts organizations through donations received at our benefit recitals.
About Us
DFG 3.0 consists of professional flutists, music teachers, and advanced flutists who enjoy performing music together. Members come from many walks of life, including business, medicine, education, and music.
What makes the Detroit Flute Guild unique is its partnership with other art forms. DFG seeks to merge musical performances with dance, theater, and visual art. The ensemble functions as a guild, sometimes performing as a full flute choir and other times duos, trios, and quartets.
The Detroit Flute Guild has been performing for nearly 20 years throughout the Detroit area, often in libraries, church sanctuaries, and commercial spaces. They have appeared with Michigan symphonies and participated in flute choir concerts at the National Flute Association annual convention.
President: Steve Wood
Artistic Director: Robert Burns
Treasurer and Librarian: Jackie Joseph
Website and Social Media: Steve Wood
Meet our Members
Robert Burns
Rob Burns began his musical journey at the age of 20 when he discovered his passion for the flute. Eager to refine his skills, Rob pursued flute studies at Wayne State University under the guidance of renowned flutist Ervin Monroe and later studying recorder with Lyle Nordstrom at Oakland University’s Early Music Program. This program allowed him to learn a diverse range of instruments including the Viola da Gamba, Recorder, Hammered Dulcimer, Renaissance Flute, and percussion. Rob obtained a B.A. in Music from Oakland University in 1977. Throughout his career spanning over four decades, Rob has become a stalwart figure in the Michigan music scene, particularly for his performances of Renaissance and Baroque music. Rob is an an active member of the North Oakland Concert Band, Les Écuries Du Roy (a Baroque chamber group), the Detroit Flute Guild, and, together with his wife, Anne, the longtime Renaissance music duo, A Reasonable Facsimile. Rob also demonstrates his creativity as a composer and arranger. His compositions and arrangements have been embraced by various small ensembles, concert bands, and flute choirs.
Jackie Joseph
Jackie Joseph is a hospital pharmacist, marathon runner, avid traveler and flute enthusiast. She works at Ascension Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc. Jackie has run a marathon on all 7 continents and 50 states and has completed the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Jackie and husband Tom have three married sons and eight grandchildren. Jackie studies with Jeff Zook and enjoys playing flute with the North Oakland Concert Band and alto flute with DFG2.0. She started playing the flute as a 3rd grade student in Detroit Public Schools.
Steve Wood
A jazz saxophonist by trade, Steve has recently developed a fascination with classical music and the flute. He is currently studying with Jeff Zook and rehearsing and performing with DFG2.0 and the Obligatos, a flute trio.
Sue Austin
Sue Austin is a retired music teacher, Registered Nurse, and Christian music composer. She is thankful and amazed that 53 of her praise songs have been used in 11 countries around the world. All royalties are donated to the American Bible Society. Many of these songs can be found in her book Grace Notes: Songs for Praise and Worship, or on her Grace Notes CD. Sue is a widow, mother of 4 and grandmother of 5. She enjoyed studying flute in California with Bernie T. Atkinson.
Linda Poirier
Linda is a retired accountant and newly retired Fitness Instructor. Her love of playing the flute has continued throughout her whole life. Past groups she has played in were the Metropolitan Symphonic Band(where she met her husband Steve), Birmingham Band, Shoreline Band, Rose Flute Ensemble, and at St. Therese of Lisieux. In addition to Detroit Flute Guild, she also plays with the Flute Specialists Flute Choir and at St. Andrews Church in Rochester MI.
Joel Stern
After studying piano as a child Joel became interested in the flute at age twelve. He has focused on flute performance ever since in both classical and jazz. He studies with Jeff Zook and performs with Flute Specialists, the Birmingham Concert Band, as well as DFG. Professionally Joel spent many years as a fundraiser mostly for institutes of higher learning including the University of Michigan. Now retired he spends time as a volunteer for the Detroit Institute of Art both as a certified docent and on various volunteer committees.
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