Montana Flute Association

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!

30/03/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

All of you reading this probably know about the piccolo, Eb flute, concert flute, alto flute, and bass flute. REPLY IN THE COMMENTS if you have been to a concert or festival with a contrabass flute or double contrabass flute!

A contrabass flute stands over 6 feet tall, and a double contrabass, developed in 2023, features over 18 feet of tubing and plays three octaves below a concert flute.

In 2010 Florida-based contrabass flute virtuoso Paige Long was featured in Montana in a series of concerts. Paige performs with the International Flute Orchestra, conducts the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra, and plays with the Daytona Solisti Chamber Orchestra.

28/03/2026

Meet Sylvia Wood, composer of Chasing Caribou, featured on the Montana Flute Association’s NFA program in Portland this coming August.

Originally written in 2022 for string quartet and saxophone, Chasing Caribou reflects Sylvia’s deep connection to the natural world—music that invites listeners to experience their surroundings with greater awareness and care.

Based in Missoula, Sylvia is a composer, pianist, and flutist currently pursuing a Master of Music in composition at the University of Montana, where she also serves as a graduate teaching assistant. Her works have been commissioned by the Valencia International Contemporary Ensemble, Sing Me a Story Foundation, and the University of Montana Symphonic Wind Ensemble.

In addition to composing, Sylvia is an active collaborative pianist, church musician, and private teacher—and when she’s not making music, you’ll likely find her outdoors, hiking, painting, or baking sourdough bread.

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

25/03/2026

Meet Alan Leech, composer of MFA’s opening piece at NFA in Portland.

American Flutefare was premiered in 2000 by the American Flute Orchestra (now the International Flute Orchestra) on tour in Great Britain—launching a long collaboration that included composing many works for the ensemble, touring, and conducting. His wife, Karen, performed in IFO for over a decade.

Professor Emeritus at Montana State University, Alan was known for his world music courses, global travels, and work with the Bozeman Symphony in addition to his position as bassoon and saxophone professor.

More composer spotlights coming soon—stay tuned!

25/03/2026

Here’s a fun fact…

The entire Montana Flute Association flute choir program for The National Flute Association Convention in August features music by living composers connected to Montana. A pretty special way to represent our state!

We’ll be introducing each composer soon—stay tuned!

Montana Flute Association | Portland 2026

19/03/2026

THEMATIC THURSDAY
Today's theme is Historic Flute Chemistry.

The first flutes were made from bird bone and mammoth ivory, found in the Swabian Jura region of Germany.

By 900 BC, a transverse (cross-blown) bamboo flute was documented in China.

Around 1100 AD transverse flutes were reintroduced, mostly from bamboo or various types of wood.

During the 1670s the Hotteterre family in France redesigned the flute, dividing it into three pieces, and adding a conical bore.

In the 1830s and 40s Theobald Boehm introduced the "Boehm System" with improved key mechanisms and a cylindrical bore.

During the 20th century, silver mostly replaced the wood flute with its bright and vibrant tone, and the Cooper scale was introduced in the 60s to standardize tuning.

18/03/2026

DID YOU KNOW?
Montana Flute Association has four active rehearsing and performing flute choirs in the state? People come when they can! Sometimes there are a handful of people, and sometimes there are quite a bunch of us! Our youngest member is 16 and our oldest member is 82. Please join us at any of these groups: Billings, Bozeman, Helena, & Missoula. If you leave your name below or send us a message, we will get you in touch with the right leader! Please join us!