Mistress of Ceremonies

Renée Blanche is the host/curator of Night Tides, a contemplative New Age music program that airs Sunday night from 8:00 p.m.  to midnight (CST) on Public Radio KCUR 89.3 and KCUR.org in Kansas City, Missouri.  Local magazine The Pitch in the “Best of Kansas City” edition awarded Night Tides “The Best Sunday Night Ritual” in 2002. In 2012, Renée was awarded “Best Radio Voice” by the same magazine. When not on the air, Renée practices and teaches T’ai Chi, laughs, and dances as much as possible. She loves serving as the World Flute Society’s Mistress of Ceremonies.

​

Swedish flute players, Andreas Ralsgård and Markus Tullberg will perform a program consisting of traditional music from their home country. Ralsgård & Tullberg are using wooden simple-system flutes. They have explored the repertoire of the traditional flute players from the 19th century, as well as tunes associated with fiddle playing. They are playing melodies, intertwined with harmonies and underpinned by a rhythmic groove that leaves no doubt that this is dance music!

​

Shawn Renzoh Head will present music from the Zen to the virtuosic, music of almost 1,000 years ago to music from almost yesterday. Shawn will present a variety of styles and periods of works on his Japanese shakuhachi flutes. He will accompany pieces with stories and interesting experiences. Shawn will highlight the advanced timbral capabilities of the shakuhachi and present it alongside new techniques developed by Shawn himself.

​

The Hanz Araki Trio will present an evening of traditional music from Ireland, Scotland, England, and America. Three world-class musicians at the top of their field will perform a variety of songs and instrumental music on flutes, guitar, and bodhrán, as well as voices joined in rich harmony.

Hanz Araki - www.hanzaraki.com

Colleen Raney - www.colleenraney.com

Dan Faiella  - www.lizanddanmusic.com

​

2nd Breakfast offers Celtic music with a funky vibe, which includes tunes with strong ties to Ireland, Scotland, and other folk traditions mixed with eclectic grooves and unexpected twists and turns. Comprised of Andra Bohnet and Rachel Nozny (flutes/whistles), Ben Harper (guitar/flute), and Andy Kruspe (percussion/melodica/technical wizardry), this award-winning ensemble guarantees your toes will be tapping and your hearts will be melted. Slainte!

Andy Kruspe, bodhrán

Rachel Nozny, Irish flute, silver flute

Dr. Andra Bohnet, Irish flute and whistle

Ben Harper, guitar

​

Enjoy the special Native American flute and guitar music from these two outstanding Canyon Records artists.

​

Breathing magical melodies on the Indian bamboo, virtuoso Sri Raman Kalyan is one of the leading flautists in the south Indian Carnatic style of music. His charismatic showmanship has enabled him to perform globally, captivating audiences at many of the world’s major venues. In addition to Carnatic music concerts, Raman also performs Jugalbandhi with North Indian classical musicians and East-West fusion concerts. He has taken roles as an accompanist, composer, and conductor for more than 400 commercial soundtracks. In addition, Raman is the founder and president of Indo American Academy of Classical Music, an organization dedicated to the preservation and propagation of Indian classical music.

​

The Traditional Flute Voice of Indigenous America

Kevin Locke is Lakota (Hunkpapa Band) and Anishinabe. Tokeya Inajin is his Lakota name, meaning "The First to Arise.” Kevin is known throughout the world as a visionary hoop dancer, the preeminent player of the indigenous Northern Plains flute, a gifted traditional storyteller, cultural ambassador, recording artist, and educator. Kevin Locke is acknowledged to be the pivotal force in the now powerful revival of the North American indigenous flute tradition that teetered on the brink of extinction just 30 years ago. Kevin was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which recognized him as a "Master Traditional Artist who has contributed to the shaping of our artistic traditions and to preserving the cultural diversity of the United States."

*Kevin Locke is a two-time Native American Music Award winner, and he was the recipient of the prestigious Bush Foundation Award.

​

Abedaband is a duo who plays music from dreams. Featured are ethnic flutes and spanish guitar, sound loops, and transformations. It is said that "Abe Da" is a dream tree.​

Aleksandr Shuginin (Estonia): Ethnic flutes
Andrei Smirnov (Russia): Spanish guitar

​

Peter Phippen and Victoria Shoemaker, accompanied by Brian Reidinger, bring to light calm, gentle innovative and passionate musical atmospheres.

​

Peter Phippen, bamboo/wooden flutes

Brian Reidinger, percussion/synthesizer

Victoria Shoemaker, bamboo/wooden flutes

​

Recording artist, flute maker, scholar, and musician, Michael Graham Allen has been researching and reintroducing New World flutes since the 1970s. He is a profound music pioneer, recording contemporary flute music well before the Native American flute took hold in the mainstream commercial recording industry. His recordings, Night Forest, Tear of the Moon, Landscape, and Thunder Chord, received much acclaim, marking them as pivotal recordings in the contemporary genre labeled by some as New Age and/or New Age Electronica, respectively. Michael lit a firestorm of innovative musical awareness. He introduced the Native American flute to numerous music markets all over the world, starting a revolution of interest in the instrument and in the culture from whence it originated. Michael is celebrated as an innovator, gifted musician, and a master craftsman, as he is credited with the reintroduction of the Anasazi, Mojave, and Hopi flutes, ancient rim-blown flutes of the New World.

​

Xavier Quijas Yxayotl is a world flutist, composer, and instrument maker known for his Aztec and Mayan music recreations from the ancient Americas. He is one of a few Mexican artists who construct instruments identical to those used by the pre-Hispanic peoples. Based upon ancient manuscripts, Xavier’s instruments are replicas of the instruments used by the Aztecs, Mayans, and other indigenous peoples from Mexico. The magic of Xavier’s instruments is a faithful reproduction of the autochthonous musical instruments, and the music is authentic and natural.

*Xavier Quijas Yxayotl is a multiple Native American Music Award nominee.

​

Monita Baker is a Feng Shui and personal energy expert, as well as the publisher of the online e-zine, “Feng Shui Farmacy.” She is a coach, healer, spiritual guide, and musical recording artist with the Gong Divas. Whether in your environment, your physical body, or your spirit, Monita is a guide through your personal journeys. Her background as a Certified Holistic Health coach, cross-cultural shamanic practitioner, and certified Feng Shui master consultant has given her the tools to guide you on your transformation and do it in a way that is natural, flowing, connected. and healing. Monita will be performing on an evening concert with Xavier Quijas Yxayotl.

​