Windward Flutes started in 2001 as a small company repairing conical bore simple system wooden flutes. Forbes and Yola Christie moved operations to Nova Scotia in 2004, built a new flutemaking workshop and began developing the finely crafted Irish flutes that we make today for musicians worldwide.
Forbes had previously spent fourteen years working in the metal flute industry, first at Brannen Brothers Flutemakers, then as manager of the body department at V. Q. Powell Flutes. Yola is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, studied with British and American silversmiths, and ran her own silversmithing business in Massachusetts.
Together they design and manufacture their own flutes. Forbes does the machining, makes jigs and tools and carves the embouchures; Yola executes keywork and finish, makes the flute blanks, and runs production. The aim of the company is to develop and produce consistently excellent taper-bore wooden flutes to modern tuning and in various pitches.
Owned In: Nova Scotia
Made In Shelburne NS:
- Canadian Maple Flutes
- Windward Pratten Flutes
- Windward C Flutes
Windward Flutes Availability:
Last Updated November 24, 2023
