William and Donna Haire Competition
The 16th Annual William and Donna Haire Artist Competition will be held TBH. This flute competition is open to all students who will graduate high school during or after the 2026-2027 school year. Winners will receive cash prizes to further their flute studies. The first and second place winners will be awarded $1000 and $500, respectively.
About Donna Marie Haire | 2025 Winners | Historical Winners | Registration
2027 Repertoire
For the Preliminary round
*This round is RECORDED.
Fantasy 6 in D Minor by G.P. Telemann (any edition)
I. Dolce (no repeats)
Acht Stucke by Paul Hindemith (any edition*)
I. Gemächlich, leicht bewegt
II. Scherzando
V. Sehr lebhaft
*Any edition, use version on IMSLP (ed. Schott) to determine correct movements
Movements may be recorded separately, but must be submitted as a single, combined audio file.
For the Final round
The final round includes one required selection:
Don’t Forget to Write by Amanda Harberg
2. Flying the Coop
Flutists selected for the Final Round will prepare a 15-minute program of their own choosing which includes the required piece. No repeating Recorded Round repertoire. 15 minute runtime includes the required piece and stage transitions. 15 minutes total stage time.
The program should include a piece or pieces reflecting a wide variety of styles and/or periods. This may include single movements of works, sonatas, concerti, and unaccompanied pieces. It is not necessary to perform all movements of a single work but any individual movement of a work must be performed in its entirety. Cuts may be made in the accompaniment and repeats may be deleted. Entire variations may be omitted, as long as a minimum of 75% of the piece is performed.
Procedures and Deadlines
- To participate in this competition, school aged applicants must (1) upload mp3 recordings of the preliminary round repertoire, (2) submit the online application form, and (3) pay the nonrefundable application fee ($30) via PayPal/credit card.
- All entrants must be current student members of the Texas Flute Society in order to participate. Entrants may join either before the competition application is submitted (use the Individual Membership Application form) or when the competition application form is submitted.
- Entries must be submitted by March 15, 2027 at 11:59pm.
- Preliminary round recordings must be unedited and without accompaniment. Each selection should be recorded individually in one performance.
- Please label recorded round submissions in English by composer last name (e.g. Telemann.mp3).
- There must be NO identifying personal information in the MP3 tags of the recording.
- Entrants are advised that the recording quality may affect results of the preliminary round.
- Finalists will be notified by March 30, 2027.
- Finalists must be prepared to submit their final programs by April 6, 2027.
- Finalists are responsible for arranging their own pianist or requesting pianist recommendations from the Competition Coordinator. Finalists are responsible for the accompanist’s fee.
- Finalists are responsible for their own travel arrangements and expenses.
- All performances are open to the public.
- All judges’ decisions are final.
For more information, please contact the Competition Coordinator.
About Donna Marie Haire
William (Bill) and Donna Haire met in the school library in Columbus, Ohio, and began dating at age 14. They were married 5 years later and remained together for the next 56 years until Donna’s passing in 2010. Music, the arts, young people, animals, and philanthropy played a central role in their lives.
Donna had a lifelong love of music. Her proficiency on the piano was apparent from an early age by her tinkering of keys on the family piano. Her parents then sent her to Capital University Conservatory of Music to study and perform recitals over the next several years. Talented with a beautiful voice as well, Donna later formed part of a trio during high school that performed on local television. Her love of singing brought her into school, church, and community choirs. She produced 2 amateur musicals that each won first place in competition. A registered nurse, Donna later chose to work with young children. Although not formally trained in teaching, this skill came naturally to her. She was very creative in finding ways to keep young people enthusiastic about learning, blending her gifts in music, poetry, and drama. Among other things, she cleverly wrote new lyrics to familiar melodies to teach children about basic facets of life. Legendary for her unique and joyful teaching style, Donna continued to hear from many of her prior students as they moved into adulthood.
Bill was an avid sports fan. He played football, baseball, and basketball in high school while his then-girlfriend, Donna, served on the cheerleading squad at his games. After their marriage, Bill embarked on an architecture career. He designed 2 of the family homes as well as dozens of other houses and commercial buildings. But Bill’s real passion was in teaching, and he devoted most of his career to professorships at Ohio University, Auburn University, and Oklahoma State University. He also served as faculty adviser to the student chapter of Habitat for Humanity — a charity that builds homes for the less fortunate — instilling in his students a desire to use their gifts to help others. Through the years, Bill and his chapter helped design and build many homes for those in need. Having also earned an MBA, Bill saw early on the value of educating architecture students in sound business practices. As an expert in architectural business, he authored or co-authored several books and participated in many lecture series. Bill was later inducted as a Fellow into the American Institute of Architects for his unique contributions to the field of architecture.
Donna and Bill both had an intense love of animals and were never without pets. This love often translated into adopting rescue pets to give them a better home. After Donna passed away, Bill established a charitable fund in her name to sponsor the things she loved: music, animals, and young people. This Fund supports animal rescue operations around the country and has underwritten music competitions for young people bearing Donna’s name. One of those competitions is this one hosted by TFS. After Bill’s passing in 2023, it was renamed the William and Donna Haire Young Artist Competition.
David McLendon married into the Haire family in 2000. He greatly valued music and possessed a magnificent voice. David was also a certified scuba diver who loved cars, boats, and planes. Additionally, he authored several novels, painted, and was a talented crochet artist. At the inception of this Competition, David took on an active – yet quiet – role. He designed the main competition logo of a flute entwined with daisies (Donna’s favorite flower) as well as the special glass trophy awarded to the first-place winner. David ensured that the trophy was made each year and he often took photographs of the event. After David passed away in 2021, the trophy he designed was named the David McLendon Award to permanently acknowledge his important contributions.
2026 Competition Winners
The Texas Flute Society is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 William and Donna Haire Young Artist Competition.
Soomin Oh
1st Place
Elisha Chu
2nd Place
Historical Winners
| 1st Place | 2nd Place | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Grace Li | Soomin Oh |
| 2024 | Joseph Park | Elisha Chiu |
| 2023 | Stephanie Kim | Lily Yang |
| 2022 | Reina Shim | Stephanie Kim |
| 2021 | Ingrid McDuffee | Eunah Kim |
| 2020 | Emily Park | Ingrid McDuffee |
| 2019 | Allison Liu | Subee Kim |
| 2018 | Madison Hardick | Lauren Brady |
| 2017 | Subin Cho | Yeongjae Jo |
| 2016 | Joanna Kim | Alyssa Tinsley |
| 2015 | Isaiah Obey | Jarrett May |
| 2014 | Tiffany Jiang | Crystal Kim |
| 2013 | Elizabeth Kang | Joann Lee |
| 2012 | Shilpa Kudva | Veronica Zheng |