​DFG 3.0
Detroit Flute Guild

History

Ervin Monroe founded the Detroit Flute Guild and was the director until 2018. Wanting to continue the tradition of the flute choir, members re-formed the group as DFG 2.0 and after more personnel changes DFG3.0 in 2023.  The group performs Mr. Monroe's arrangements and compositions, as well as modern works with extended techniques.

 

Director Emeritus Ervin Monroe

Ervin Monroe served as Principal Flute of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for 40 years. He has also performed with the Mozarteum Orchestra, the Chamber Symphony of Philadelphia, and the Royal and Bolshoi Ballets. Monroe has appeared in duo concerts with such renowned artists as the late Jean-Pierre Rampal.

 

Monroe is president of Muramatsu America, a company that imports, sells and services professional flutes. He served as president of the National Flute Association and started The Flutist Quarterly, the NFA’s official magazine.  He has also written for Flute Talk magazine.

 

In addition to performing, Monroe has written numerous musical publications, including arrangements and original compositions. His composition, “Variations on an Ancient Pavane,” published by Little Piper, was a winner in the 2015 Newly Published Music Competition at the NFA Convention. This exciting new piece was performed on the Convention’s opening day by Aaron Goldman and the DCFlutes, the official flute choir of the Flute Society of Washington, for whom it was written. Monroe's new composition "A Sea Shanty Frolic" (variations on "What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor"), also published by Little Piper, was received enthusiastically at the NFA Exhibitor's Concert.  

 

Ervin can be heard on solo and chamber music albums, as well as on many Detroit Symphony Orchestra recordings.  He earned a bachelor’s degree in Music from the Oberlin Conservatory and a master’s degree in Music from the Manhattan School of Music. Monroe was Professor of Flute at Wayne State University for over 30 years and has served as musical director of several Michigan orchestras.  Mr. Monroe was selected by the National Flute Association to receive the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award at their 2017 convention.