Montana Flute Association

03/08/2026

Montana Flute Association at NFA!

"Pieces of Montana"

Friday August 7th, 1:30-2pm
Room B115-116

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27/07/2026

The Gallatin Valley Flutes- the Bozeman Chapter of the MFA- held a fundraiser event last Friday! Here are some highlights! Thanks to everyone who came out to support!

We are one step closer to our fundraising goal to send our 40-person flute choir to perform at the National Flute Convention in Portland in less than 2 weeks!

Want to help? Reach out to us at [email protected]!

06/06/2026

The Queen City Flutes, who are members of the MFA and will perform in Portland in August, are hosting a fundraiser concert toward our travel to the national convention!

Come and enjoy a lively concert hosted by the Queen City Flute Choir and area musicians at 7:00 pm Friday, June 12th, at Covenant United Methodist Church.

01/06/2026

RECIPE FOR FUN

Ingredients
1. Flute players of all ages
2. New flutes to try out
3. Workshops on technique, tone, playing alto & bass, healthy alignment, and practice tips
4. Fundraising table with homemade goodies
5. Flute Choirs of all sizes
6. One joyful performance!

Directions
Pack all ingredients into one rainy day!

MFA CONVENTION 2026

Thank you to Flutistry and Flute World for sending us an amazing variety of flutes for our members to try!

26/04/2026

From Montana’s wide-open landscapes to stages around the world...

Meet Rhonda Larson, Grammy Award-winning flutist, composer, and Montana native. An arrangement of her piece, Slow Tears, will be featured on the Montana Flute Association’s NFA program in Portland on August 7th.

Raised in the mountains of Big Sky Country, Rhonda’s free-spirited, nature-inspired artistry has shaped a career that blends innovation, global influence, and unmistakable musical voice. She first stepped onto the national stage at age 22, winning the National Flute Association’s Young Artist Competition—an achievement that led to her debut at Carnegie Hall. Soon after, her work with the Paul Winter Consort launched an international career that culminated in a Grammy Award.

Rhonda is known for redefining what the flute can do—most notably through her signature flute-and-vocal technique, performed simultaneously. As one reviewer wrote, she “wields her instruments like a blow torch,” breaking expectations and creating an entirely new sound world.

Whether performing on her gold flute or a collection of world flutes, Rhonda brings that bold, expressive voice to audiences across the globe—from concert halls to the live CBS finale of Survivor at Madison Square Garden.

As a recording artist, she has contributed to more than 20 albums and continues to compose, perform, and collaborate worldwide. She is also a dedicated teacher, offering masterclasses and private instruction across the U.S. and internationally.

It feels especially meaningful to bring this music to NFA, where Rhonda’s own professional journey began—and where her earliest teacher, Renée, will be part of the performing ensemble.

At heart, Rhonda remains deeply connected to the natural world—an influence that continues to shape her music and her life. When she’s not performing, you’ll likely find her outdoors, camera in hand, or spending time between her homes in Connecticut and the medieval village of Roccantica, Italy.

Stay tuned as we celebrate the music and musicians of our NFA program!

24/04/2026

KPAX came out to one of our regional rehearsals at the University of Montana last week to help us spread the word about our upcoming performance at the National Flute Convention and our fundraising! Check it out!

https://www.kpax.com/news/missoula-county/montana-flute-association-fundraising-to-send-musicians-to-national-convention

22/04/2026

What if a landscape could sing?

Meet Isabelle Pearson, Montana-born composer of Sagebrush Sea, featured on the Montana Flute Association’s NFA program in Portland this coming August!

Inspired by the vast and often-overlooked beauty of the American West, Sagebrush Sea transforms childhood memories of Montana into shifting textures and a melody that feels like a love song to the land. Isabelle’s music invites us to listen more closely—to place, to memory, and to the fragile ecosystems that surround us.

Originally from Bozeman, Isabelle is a composer, flutist, and pianist whose work explores the connection between sound and landscape. Her music has been performed across the United States and Europe, with recent collaborations including the Butte Symphony Orchestra and the American Liszt Society.

In addition to composing and performing, Isabelle is a passionate advocate for the natural world, creating projects that bring together music, art, and environmental awareness. She is currently completing her Master of Music in Composition at James Madison University.

Stay tuned as we introduce one more of the composers behind our NFA program!

06/04/2026

31/03/2026

Meet Russ Newbury, Montana native and composer of FESTIVAL FLUTES, featured on the Montana Flute Association’s NFA program in Portland.

Written in 1992 for a Northwest Music Educators convention in Seattle, Festival Flutes is exactly what its name suggests—bright, energetic, and full of joy.

Originally from Whitefish, Russ has spent a lifetime sharing music as a composer, educator, and mentor. His works—ranging from concert band to jazz and marching ensembles—have been performed around the world, including at Carnegie Hall. After retiring in 2021 from Hanford High School in Richland, Washington, he continues to write, arrange, and inspire musicians of all ages.

Russ’s roots run deep in both Montana and the broader Northwest, with teaching and mentoring roles that have touched countless students and ensembles.

When he’s not making music, you’ll find him outdoors or spending time with his wife Loralee, their children, and grandchildren—at the heart of the same warmth and joy that shines through his music.

Stay tuned as we introduce more of the composers behind our NFA program!