FLAGSTAFF FOLK FESTIVAL NAMES MUSICIAN AND COMMUNITY LEADER ANTARA HUNTER AS NEW DIRECTOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: January 19, 2026
Contact: Antara Hunter
Email: director@flagfolkfest.org
Website: www.flagfolkfest.org

FLAGSTAFF FOLK FESTIVAL NAMES MUSICIAN AND COMMUNITY LEADER ANTARA HUNTER AS NEW DIRECTOR

FLAGSTAFF, AZ — Flagstaff Friends of Traditional Music (FFOTM) is delighted to announce the appointment of Antara Hunter as its new Director of the Flagstaff Folk Festival. A singer-songwriter, educator, and cultural advocate, Antara steps into the role with a mission to honor the festival's deep-rooted traditions while expanding its reach within the modern folk landscape.

Antara succeeds a legacy of leadership that has made the festival a staple of Northern Arizona’s summer season for decades. Her appointment signals a commitment to professionalizing the festival’s operations and deepening its connection to the diverse musical heritage of the Colorado Plateau and beyond.

A Vision for Community and Craft

A songwriter, performer and producer, Antara has spent years supporting the local music scene by creating opportunities for musicians of all ages to develop and share their craft with a supportive and welcoming audience. Antara views the festival as an opportunity to expand on this work: ”The Flagstaff Folk Festival is more than just a series of concerts; it’s a means toward deepening connection with each other through the power of music and storytelling. My goal is to ensure that every person—whether a seasoned musician or a first-time festival goer—feels the sense of belonging and connection that only folk music can provide."

Strategic Goals for the Upcoming Festival

Under Antara’s leadership, the festival plans to implement several key initiatives:

• Enhanced Workshop Programming: Expanding the educational "workshop stages" to include more youth-focused mentorship and diverse instrumental clinics.
• Digital Integration: Utilizing Antara’s expertise in digital storytelling to provide increased visibility for festival artists, sponsors and vendors while adopting technology to improve the audience experience as they navigate throughout the festival.
• Inclusive Curation: Prioritizing a lineup that celebrates the full spectrum of the Folk genre including Americana, Country, Bluegrass, and Contemporary with a focus on attracting the next generation of folk artists and fans.

Proven Leadership

The board selected Antara based on her rare combination of musical experience, organizational acumen and marketing expertise. Throughout her career she has demonstrated a sophisticated ability to manage large-scale creative projects, navigate complex logistics, and build sustainable partnerships with local businesses and organizations.

“We’re excited to announce that Antara Hunter is our new Folk Fest Director,” says FFOTM Board President Rich D’Aloisio. “A positive and upbeat musician, Antara brings a deep love of folk music and a strong commitment to community. Her energy, creativity, and collaborative spirit make her a wonderful fit for this role.”

About the Flagstaff Folk Festival

Held annually on the forested grounds of Coconino Center for the Arts and the Pioneer Museum, the Flagstaff Folk Festival features over 100 acts across multiple stages. It remains one of the most affordable and family-friendly cultural events in the Southwest, dedicated to the celebration of traditional and contemporary folk music. The 24th Flagstaff Folk Festival will be held June 13-14, 2026.

About Antara Hunter

Antara has spent her life between California and Flagstaff. She first moved to Flagstaff in ’82, attending FJHS and FHS, then graduating from NAU in ‘94. During these years she developed her voice singing in choirs and performing in musical productions. While studying abroad in Costa Rica, she began playing guitar and discovered songwriting. She moved to Santa Barbara in ’97 to pursue her musical ambitions which lead to a 10-year, 4-album musical partnership as part of the duo Antara & Delilah. The duo joined with Jim Messina (Loggins and Messina, Poco, Buffalo Springfield) to form an acoustic trio, touring the U.S. Simultaneously, Antara founded and ran a music production company where she hosted 100’s of open mics, showcases and concerts featuring local and touring artists. She gained expertise in large-scale event production as the Coordinator of the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival for five years. Antara and her family returned to Flagstaff in 2015 and she has since dedicated her time and talent as a community organizer, marketing specialist, workshop facilitator, concert producer, guitar teacher and advocate for the arts.


Antara Hunter, Director, Flagstaff Folk Festival 2026

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