first on decorahnews.com: 2010 Decorah HS graduate has been named Principal Flautist of the Des Moines Symphony Orchestera

Photo courtesy of Rice University

The Des Moines Symphony Orchestra has a new Principal Flautist--and she's a Decorah High School graduate.

Kayla Burggraf was one of 50 candidates for the position.  She tells decorahnews.com that those musicians selected to audition were invited to Des Moines and participated in a blind audition for the position.  The flutists played from a list of orchestral standards.  After four rounds of auditions, the Des Moines Symphony announced Kayla had won the job.

"It's pretty exciting," she tells decorahnews.com.  It will also be a little hectic.  She has just graduated from Rice University and has been accepted to the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where she will work on her Masters Degree in flute performance.  That means she will be living in New York and flying to Des Moines once a month for performances.  Her first session with the Des Moines Symphony will be the last weekend in September.