The Flute Regional Etude Master Classes
REGISTER NOW for the FREE event held on Saturday, January 13, 2024, starting at 10:00 am in the MCC Performing Arts Center, 1520 S. Longmore in Mesa. Pre-registration is not mandatory. On site registration begins at 9:30 am.
The event is FREE to all High School flutists.
10:00am - 12:05 pm Masterclasses
12:15pm - 12:55 optional classes on piccolo etudes and performance anxiety. Mock auditions following the classes are optional, but highly recommended.
Clinicians
RHONDA BOWEN
Rhonda Bowen is an experienced educator, performer and clinician. Rhonda’s orchestral experience has included membership in Gilbert Symphony Orchestra, Capital City Symphony in Washington DC, Mesa and Tempe Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed with the Library of Congress Orchestra, Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra (MI), Scottsdale and Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. She has been a member of many chamber groups including: Desert Echoes Flute Project, CAFE Flutes, Columbia Flute Choir and First Light Ensemble (two flutes/harp). Rhonda has had the opportunity to perform at the White House, Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, Library of Congress, National Theatre and NY’s Times Square.
Rhonda is very active in her field and has served on the Board of Directors for Flute Society of Washington (DC) and Arizona Flute Society. As an educator, she has taught instrumental music in public schools in Fairfax, VA and the Phoenix metro area. She has also been on the faculty at Columbia Institute of Fine Arts in Falls Church, VA, Levine School of Music in Washington DC, Phoenix Symphony’s “One Nation” Project, Curry Summer Music Camp at NAU and Mesa Community College Summer Music Camp.
Rhonda earned a Bachelor of Science in Flute Performance and Music Education from Northern Arizona University and Master of Music in Flute Performance at Michigan State University. Her principal instructors were Philip Swanson (NAU) and Richard Sherman (MSU).
CHRISTINA STEFFEN
Christina Steffen enjoys a diverse music career as a musician and educator. She has performed in the U.S. and Europe and at many music festivals including the International Low Flutes Festival, Abiquiu Chamber Music Festival, Music on the Rocks Music Festival, Chaparral MusicFest, and the Red Rocks Music Festival. She was the soloist for the world premiere of Freedman’s “On the Other World” for alto flute and flute choir at the 2012 National Flute Association Convention and gave the southwest premiere of the Bohmler Sonata célèbre in 2011. Her unique artistry melds pure classical and orchestral training with a jazz sensibility shaped by years of playing in Big Bands. This combined with a passion for the musics of the world has fashioned a uniquely versatile musician. She has played with local pit orchestras for over 50 national Broadway tours including “Wicked,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “Mary Poppins,” and “Aladdin,” plays regularly for The Phoenix Theatre Company, and has played for an extensive list of international entertainers such as Hugh Jackman, Bernadette Peters, Patti Lupone, and Natalie Cole. She has played extra/subbed with The Phoenix Symphony and played with many ad hoc orchestras, and various chamber ensembles.
Christina’s other musical forays include regional and national commercial recordings (HBO, United Way, PBS), playing for several CDs, and releasing the album, “Paradisa!” featuring the flute, piano, cello trio. She received her BM and MM in Flute performance from the University of Arizona School of Music and has taught at several music camps including the NAU Curry Summer Music Camp, the MCC Summer Music Camp, the SCC Music Camp, and the AFS Flute Camp which she initiated and was the Academic Director 2008 – 2015 while also acting as an ensemble coach and clinician. She teaches flute at Mesa Community College and is the founder and Artistic Director of Desert Echoes Flute Project, an internationally recognized flute choir program sponsored by MCC. She is also the director of the Summer Flute Project, AZ FluteFest, All-Arizona Flute Choir, and the Flute Regional Etude Day. Christina was invited to direct the National Flute Association’s competitive High School Flute Choir at the 50th Anniversary Convention in Chicago (2022), the Closing Ceremony Low Flute Choir at the International Low Flute Festival (2024), and the competitive High School Flute Choir at the Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention (2025).
KEHOKULE'ALANI O'DANIELL
Kehokule’alani O’Daniell is a flute instructor, band/general music/choir teacher, and performer in Mesa. She graduated with her Bachelor’s in Music Education and Master’s in Flute Performance Pedagogy from Arizona State University where she studied with Dr. Elizabeth Buck. She has performed, adjudicated, and worked with many flautists around the valley including Desert Echoes Flute Project, Alla Breve, Paradise Valley Flute Choir, and the Arizona Flute Society. She has performed for the Hanson Brothers, at the Phoenix Theatre Company, directed a flute choir for ZooLights for several years, and has been a clinician and an adjudicator for the Arizona Flute Society. Kehokule’alani was a founding coach/clinician for the MCC Summer Flute Project and is excited to return as Artist Faculty in 2023. She is passionate about working with other musicians to find their inspiration and determination in becoming better players.
LINDA BAILEY
Dr. Linda Bailey was the piccoloist with the Seattle Ensign Orchestra, played flute and piccolo with Northwest Symphony Orchestra, and co-founded the Eastgate Chamber Music Festival (2011-2014) in Seattle prior to moving to Phoenix. She was also on the faculty at Music Works Northwest and coached the Bellevue Youth Symphony.
Dr. Bailey freelances in the Greater Phoenix/Scottsdale area and maintains a studio in Scottsdale. She is actively involved in Desert Echoes Flute Project playing in DEFproject and the Chamber Choir as well as the DEF Community Flute Choir. Dr. Bailey has been a performing member of the National Flute Association’s Professional Flute Choir on both flute and piccolo since 2013. Later this summer Dr. Bailey will, once again, be performing as part of the NFA’s PFC at the annual flute convention in Chicago. An active clinician, Dr. Bailey has been a coach and clinician for several of the Arizona Flute Society (AFS) Flute Camps, has given classes on the AMEA Regional Etudes, and adjudicated many AFS Flute Competitions.
Dr. Bailey earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Flute Performance and a Theory Certificate from the University of Washington, a Master of Music from University of North Texas, where she was a Teaching Fellow, and a Bachelor of Music from Portland State University. Dr. Bailey’s flute teachers include Dr. Mary Karen Clardy, Martha Herby, GeorgeAnne Ries, Dr. Marilyn Shotola, and Felix Skowronek. Three of her most influential flute teachers, from attending and participating in master classes and lessons, are Keith Underwood, Zart Dombourian-Eby, and Brian Gordon.
Download flyer: Flute Regional Day Flyer 2023