The 2007 Chicago Flute Fair will feature guest artist Rhonda Larson in recital and masterclass. The concert, entitled "Precious Metal, Crystal and Wood – World Flutes with Rhonda Larson and her Virtual Band," will include original music with roots in classical music and extending into Celtic, sacred, ethnic and folk, in addition to selections from the standard solo flute repertoire.

Rhonda Larson will also present a two-part masterclass. The first part of the class is open to all flutists and will include a physical body warm-up/stretch followed by a focus on playing by ear and "phrase inventing" exercises, all accompanied by  percussion recording. "Be ready to try something new!" This will be followed by a traditional masterclass with performers from the CFC membership.

To perform in the solo portion of the masterclass, download the application. The application deadline is February 11, 2007. Ms. Larson requests that no avant-garde music be performed in this class.

As always, many companies will be exhibiting their flutes, music and accessories at the Flute Fair.

This year's exhibitors are:

Altus Flutes
Brannen Flutes
Burkart Flutes & Piccolos
Eugene S. Gordon Woodwinds
Flute Arts
Flute Boutique
Flute Lover's Emporium
Flute Specialists, Inc.
Gemstone Musical Instruments
GIA Publications, Inc.
Keefe Piccolo
Kober's Instrument Repair
Little Piper
Miyazawa Flutes
Muramatsu America
Music & Arts Center
Tom Green Flutes

The CFC's adult competition takes place at the Flute Fair. The 2007 competition is Orchestral Excerpts. For more information, visit the Competitions page.

CFC members in good standing of college age or above are eligible to be featured on the General Member Recital at the Flute Fair. Applications will be accepted in the order they are received until the recital hour is filled. Download the application here.

The Young Performer's Masterclass is open to CFC members in 8th grade or younger. Application deadline is February 11, 2007.

Silent Auction
For this first time this year, the Chicago Flute Club will be holding a silent auction at the Flute Fair. For anyone who has not attended a silent auction, it is an exciting opportunity to bid on (and hopefully bring home!) some great items while raising money for your Chicago Flute Club. In a silent auction, bidding takes place continuously throughout the day, from the opening of the fair at 9:00 am-5:30 pm. All of the items will be displayed on tables in front of the recital hall, near where registration takes place each year and bids will be placed "silently" on slips of paper accompanying each item. At 6:00 pm, following Rhonda Larson's masterclass, the winning bids will be announced from the stage inside of the recital hall, so our bidders should be sure to attend this wonderful class! Many of our exhibitors are donating fabulous flute and music-related items, and we are also welcoming donations from our general membership. Appropriate items would be items such as crafts, artwork, tickets, gift cards, or special services as well as items such as recordings or sheet music released by our members. Anyone with questions and also anyone interested in donating items to the silent auction should contact Allie Deaver, assistant program chair, by e-mail or by phone at (630) 988-3224.

Studio Recitals
New this year to the CFC Flute Fair is the opportunity for teachers to hold studio recitals at the fair. Teachers' studios will be able to perform a recital in the midst of the excitement of the fair. There will be two time slots available during the day during which recitals can be held, the first being from 11:30 am-12:30 pm and the second being from 5:00 pm-6:00 pm. The fee for the room rental will be $100 and the room will include a tuned piano. Each teacher must provide his or her own accompanist. The rooms will be rented to the first teachers that apply, and the requests should denote which time slot the teacher would prefer. Remember, all teachers and students who are members get to enjoy the entire fair and all of its fantastic attractions for free! Requests may be sent to Allie Deaver, assistant program chair, by e-mail or by phone at (630) 988-3224.

"...she's one of the best...a great player – and she does her own thing...she has set a new standard in this crossover music”
– Flutist Sir James Galway

"...touches of jazz and world music rhythmic interplay...vibrant, upbeat, marked by precision musicianship"
– Billboard

"Without a doubt, one of the world's most gifted flutists, Larson gives the listener a stunning showcase of her talents...unbound by musical genres..."
– Musical Soundscapes

Flutist, composer, and bandleader Rhonda Larson entered the national music scene from her native Montana by winning first prize in the National Flute Association's Young Artist Competition in 1985, including a Carnegie Hall debut. Shortly thereafter, Rhonda joined forces with the Paul Winter Consort, initiating her journey of combining diverse musical styles in addition to her classical training. Rhonda won a Grammy Award during her last year with the Consort, departing the group at that time to embark on her individual cross-cultural/multi-genre music path.

Rhonda's diversity, combined with her musical and technical wizardry, has begun a new generation for the flute as a leading voice in the music world. Composing much of her own repertoire, Larson continues to be recognized as a visionary force creating a refreshing hybrid music for the flute, including her versatility on an array of ethnic flutes from around the world. Larson journeyed to South Africa as a musical ambassador for the United States to perform for the Parliament of the World's Religions, sharing the stage with such luminaries as Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama. In addition to South Africa, Rhonda has toured in Russia, Japan, Israel, Europe, Central America and throughout North America. Rhonda's band, Rhonda Larson & Ventus, have performed in Minsk, Belarus, as well as the National Flute Association's convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Most recently, Rhonda has performed in Ireland, Italy, and Spain. In Spain she recorded with the Celtic Galician group "Milladoiro" from the Santiago de Compostela region, and performed as a guest soloist with this stellar bunch along with guest soloist Eileen Ivers, famed celtic fiddle player of the original "Riverdance" troupe.

Rhonda has a discography of over 17 commercial recordings from label/distributors such as Windham Hill and American Gramaphone, among others. She has recently recorded a variety of flute music for the CBS television series, "Survivor" and "The Restaurant," and in May 2004 performed on the Live CBS finale episode of " Survivor" from Madison Square Gardens, seen by over 40 million viewers.

Rhonda has two solo recordings, Free as a Bird, and her newly released second solo CD, Distant Mirrors. The latter is an eclectic musical reflection on world cultures and ancient traditions, and was listed in the top ten of the "25 Essential CD's for 2003" nationally syndicated Public Radio program, Echoes. Rhonda is featured in the 2003 "Flute Stories – 101 Inspirational Stories from the World's Best Flute Players," Windplayers publication. Ms. Larson is on the Board of Directors of the National Flute Association.

Rhonda and her husband Lee deLisle live in Southwestern Michigan, and part-time at their second home in the Lazio region of Italy.

Visit Ms. Larson's website: www.RhondaLarson.com