Rhonda's Musical Journey (a more detailed biography) by Larry McCoy

What Press and Fans are Saying

PRESS BOX containing photos (300dpi) and press for Reproduction

YouTube VIDEOS OF RHONDA:
1. classical: Marin Marais "Les Folies d'Espagne" LIVE IN CONCERT	2. celtic: Trad./Larson "The Boatman" LIVE FROM ROCCANTICA, ITALY MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL

 
UPCOMING EVENTS

Rhonda Larson's Musical Journey
by Larry McCoy
(For a more succinct Press version of Rhonda's biography, click here)

Rhonda Larson says she was born wanting to play the flute. It was at age 10 that Rhonda began this journey, one that has taken her to the farthest reaches of the world. Her "practice room" was a high mountain ridge outside of her family home in Bozeman, Montana, where the sky is endless and the mountains go on forever. It's not difficult, then, to understand that the roots of Rhonda's music come from a place in her heart that celebrates the beauty of nature.

In addition to having great teachers, much of Rhonda's early education in her remote location came from absorbing the performance standards and musical possibilities from recordings of the world's greatest musicians.

Rhonda has always been one to follow her own path, that road less traveled. An early indication of this was to decline the invitation to attend Juilliard. Instead, she chose to remain in the inspirational natural surroundings of the west and study at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. In her final year, she won the prestigious National Flute Association's Young Artist Competition, including a Carnegie Hall debut. Not only was she the youngest winner in the history of the competition, but a student from Juilliard was awarded the second prize.

Devouring the classical flute repertoire, Rhonda was always in search of new musical challenges. In an interview for the New York Flute Club, she says, "I began to see that music has a larger role for humanity: that it can truly speak of the shared expressions of our human souls." This developing philosophical foundation of her music was about to be played out in the next step in her musical journey.

World Music Discovered
In her final month of university, Rhonda was discovered by Paul Winter who invited her to join the Paul Winter Consort. She immediately began a non-stop touring career and made numerous highly acclaimed recordings with this innovative group. After eight years with the Consort and a newly-won Grammy Award, Rhonda realized it was time to move on to explore new musical vistas of
her own.

Rhonda immersed herself in the diverse musical influences the Consort experiences afforded her, and began experimenting with her growing collection of ethnic flutes. Composing her own music and forming her own band, "Ventus", Rhonda continued performing and teaching masterclasses around the world. She was invited to perform on the CBS television finale episode of "Survivor", live from New York City's Madison Square Gardens, as seen by over 40 million viewers.

Recordings
Rhonda has a discography of over 20 recordings with various labels and artists. Free As A Bird, Rhonda's first solo CD, reflects her commitment to making music that is accessible, yet true to her heart. Her first compositions, Lament and Movin' On, are stellar highlights on this CD. With her second CD, Distant Mirrors (2003), Rhonda is clearly in control of her musical destiny. This CD represents a more fully developed body of her own work with many original compositions. A dazzling musical reflection on world cultures and ancient traditions, Distant Mirrors is miraculous in showcasing Rhonda's extraordinary technique, rich tone, and dynamic compositional style. Reflecting on her musical approach for this recording, influenced by the 9/11 tragedy and incorporating Middle Eastern melodies, Rhonda explains, "the poet Rumi says it well: "Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about. Ideas, language, even the phrase 'each other' doesn't make any sense." Rhonda concludes, "In the end we are, as one human race, distant mirrors of each other."

Musical Ambassador
"Many have described my particular path as a 'musical ambassador'. I think it at least summarizes the desires I already have in my heart, putting music to serve people, and contribute to mankind in some positive way…" Rhonda states. This special approach to creating music has played out in many ways throughout Rhonda's journey. Most notably, Rhonda shared the stage with such luminaries as Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama at the Parliament of the World's Religions in South Africa. Her ambassadorial role has also played out in her recent nine-month experience living in Ramallah, Palestine, where Rhonda taught at the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music.

Prior to embarking on this teaching experience in Ramallah, she shared her ambitions, "If my presence there can help the students understand the role of music as a bridge to our common ground, then I will have done my job. It is my belief that this is the very role of music: to uplift the human heart…" (To read from Rhonda's blog while she was in the Middle East, click here)

Rhonda Larson is committed to the journey of living the Artist's Life, with music being a way of practicing and interpreting life. Forever challenging the musical status quo, like all great artists, Rhonda's work is at its best when she connects her ingenuity with real life experiences, creating music that makes the world a more soulful dwelling.

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What Press and Fans are Saying

"Rhonda Larson's flute playing is extraordinary."
---C.J. Gianakaris, Kalamazoo Gazette

…"What Larson does is to use works of the past as the base on which to build her own flights. And what flights they are! This handsome sylph with the cascade of blond curls and the articulate manner shows not only remarkable technique but great musicality…Part mystic, part leprechaun, here is a woman who bridges worlds."
--Frank Merkling, The News-Times

"Rhonda's evening of flute music radiated. There was a straightforward positive musicality to what she did and it cheered the listener."
---The New York Times

"The beautiful young sorceress held aloft her magic wand and enchanted the audience…creating
a world of pure tone and emotion."
----The Anchorage Times

"Without a doubt, one of the world's most gifted flutists…unbound by musical genres."
---Robert Walmsley, Musical Soundscapes

"It took mere moments for everyone to let go and happily succumb to a performer who plays flute the way it should be played, from the inside out."
---Pauline Durichen, Kitchener-Waterloo Record

"You are truly a great player, an emotional player, elegant and graceful."
---A fan from California

"…played with much passion and virtuosity…very inspiring."
---A fan from Texas

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