Larson's music merges the most soulful elements of sacred, Celtic, jazz, folk, classical and ethnic music, inspired from ancient sources and world traditions.

15 MP3 Songs
NEW AGE: Celtic New Age, CLASSICAL: New Age



Details:
"Distant Mirrors" is a dazzling musical reflection on world cultures and ancient traditions, captured on the luminous flute voices of Rhonda Larson.

"...Once every generation there comes along a transformative force that breaks all the industry rules. Larson wields her instrument like a blow torch, breaking down our Victorian preconceptions of what the classical flute should be, how it should sound and where it should take us...This intensely gifted flutist needed little more than her native Montana charm to win the hearts of the packed house..." raves Connecticut's VOICES review of Rhonda Larson & Ventus in concert. Flutist James Galway said of Rhonda, "...she's one of the best---a great player---and she does her own thing." The Yale University Press publication entitled, "The Flute" cites Rhonda as "...the first female star of the flute to bring her polished classical training to a popular fusion of jazz, Celtic, ethnic and sacred music."

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. Rhondaâs band, Rhonda Larson & Ventus, have performed in Minsk, Belarus, as well as the National Flute Association's convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Most recently, Ms. Larson 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.

You can learn more about Rhonda from her website at: www.RhondaLarson.com