I’ve always thought that former members of Laguna Flutes are like alumni…they always have a ‘home’ here with our ensemble. Bella Sunshine used to play with us in the early years of our group , back when we still rehearsed in Betsy Foster’s living room (and we had those fun happy hour times after rehearsals…Thank you Betsy). Bella is now the General Manager of the Pasadena Symphony . She recently...Read More
The Christmas season is synonymous with wonderful music. Working with Phyllis Aidan Louke on the commission of Come Celebrate Christmas was pure joy. We decided that this arrangement should be versatile: Not only can it be played from beginning to end, each featured carol can stand on its own if you need a short version for a performance within a church service, for example. The arrangement contains three familiar tunes:...Read More
This year, Laguna Flutes spring performances included a concert at Heritage Pointe, a retirement home for Jewish senior citizens as well as our first performance at the Nixon Library and Birthplace. Our recital was called Let’s Dance, and included dance inspired music from around the world, encompassing styles from Renaissance dances to jazz inspired grooves. One of my favorite moments at the Heritage Pointe concert was our encore of Hava...Read More
It’s taken me a few years to finally settle in on a seating plan that maximizes the sound of Laguna Flutes. Currently, we use a three row set up, as our enrollment settles in at about 18-23 players each session. I usually run two sessions per year. Fall session begins in early October, working toward Christmas concerts. Spring session begins about 10-12 weeks prior to our spring concerts. Each session...Read More
We presented a concert at First Presbyterian Church of Fullerton entitled Joyful Noel, along with the Kirk Handbell Choir under the direction of Lynette McGee on December 12th. Our repertory included sacred and secular tunes of the season, along with a joint rendition of Angels from the Realms of Glory for flute ensemble and handbell choir. Joy to the World was performed along with Lynette on the organ and included...Read More
As I sit here writing to you, I am FINALLY realizing that all the waiting and wondering is nearly over. We are just about ready to start back as a musical ensemble. The insurance company has been contacted and we have liability insurance…Our new church home has been unbelievably gracious about facility usage…I have the key! I am working on website updates. We have a vaccine policy that will shadow...Read More
What an unusual year it has been musically! For Laguna Flutes, we have postponed all of our spring events due to the unprecedented Covid-19 situation. The NFA convention has been canceled this year….but we are super excited to perform in Washington, DC, next year for the annual convention. I’ve tried to maintain contact with our group by having zoom ‘Flutey-Hours’ just to get together and chat…sort of like Happy Hour...Read More
It’s February and already we’re sensing what our spring concert will sound like! I’m so excited by the progress I’ve heard from our first rehearsal to our second. What makes an ensemble great? Each member has to decide that their musical contributions are equally important…playing first or third is EQUALLY IMPORTANT! Playing a lower numbered part has different demands…but everyone in chamber music has solos and everybody has to prepare...Read More
Sight-reading was fun last night! We are building our program around a theme of folk songs and nature…and we have picked out 4 works so far…There is one work that is not ‘on theme’ but has some fun tie-ins. So how do I choose music for the group? First of all, I always ask players if they like the music…life is too short to play music you dislike. Secondly…is it at...Read More
Happy New Year and Welcome to Laguna Flutes’ website! It is my hope that you will enjoy coming here to learn about our group and join us if so inclined. We have included a few recordings on our ‘listen’ page and of course, standard photos and bios of our group along with concert announcements for the 2020 season. Use the ‘contact us’ page if you seek more information about joining us. If you are already a...Read More
Introduction
At Laguna Flutes, we believe in the power of music to inspire, connect, and elevate the human spirit. Our blog is your go-to source for all things flute—whether you’re a fellow musician, a music lover, or simply curious about the art of flutes and flute ensembles. Here, we’ll share insights into our performances, explore the creative process behind our pieces, offer tips for fellow flutists, and dive into the world of music that moves us. Join us as we celebrate the beauty of music, the joy of collaboration, and the endless possibilities of sound.
