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Zion Canyon Flute Festival: Fluting Forward June 7-15, 2008 – Reporting from Zion Canyon Utah
Twelve years ago, I first began playing and selling High Spirits flutes from the back of a dress shop where I worked in Springdale, Utah (Gateway to Zion National Park). Early on, I believed that Zion Canyon and the Native Flute was a match made in Southwest heaven. A key element in the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games' opening ceremony, the song of the Native Flute honored the Olympic athletes as well as five Utah Native American tribes.
The 1st year our festival was composed of two visionaries, Marty Lisonbee and me. Early on, I had joined INAFA and attended the INAFA Taos convention. I was very inspired by the "Voice of the Wind" newsletter articles. Marty had attended a flute playing workshop I sponsored (his wife signed him up for it). Fortunately or unfortunately, he caught the "flute bug". A few months later, he showed up at my house with a beautifully sounding flute he had crafted. That flute would become the prototype for his Native Echo Flutes.
I said, "I want to have a flute festival here."
He said, "Let's do it!"
I approached the Town of Springdale asking if they would like to add flute music to their yearly art festival organized by local artist Jaye Mundy — they liked the idea. The festival is a nickel and dime affair and falls under the town?s non-profit status. I apply for grants to pay for the publicity, knock on doors for sponsorships and complimentary hotel rooms for performers.
The first year Zion flute circle members Colin Warren, Marty, myself, my sisters, my friends, Sue and Jodi, and town employees, Zach & Rob in maintenance, Kurt Wright, the sheriff (town population is only 450), town manager, Rick Wixom, and Chris Benson, town clerk, with other volunteers from the town made up the festival crew. Our website is designed and maintained by Marty Lisonbee and his dedication has been a very important key to the festival's continued success.
The 2nd & 3rd years, Julie Hancock, newly hired to direct the new Canyon Community Center, Dawn Saunders, Town Treasurer, and members of the Arizona flute circle, Leeland Wach, Pat Haran, Mary Munarin, Jim Murphy, Scott Schaffer and performer Jan Seiden strengthened the backbone of the festival.
For side entertainment during the second year we had a one day deluge of October rain. The rain storm ran competition with the 1st year's unannounced performer, "Canyon Wind" that blew the stage over Saturday afternoon. I should have known — I see the flute as a child of the Wind. The Wind is always attentive to its offspring — sometimes coyote curious. This year we honored the "Wind" with elders Gail and Lee Roy Cully along with Vince Redhouse making a proper offering at the festival's beginning and this year "Canyon Wind" took a sabbatical, content to be a proud parent in the audience.
Under its non-profit status, volunteers locally and from across the country have been 99% of the festival's staffing. We do our best and ask for your patience with our imperfections. When you are working with volunteers the qualifications require enthusiasm, flexible schedules, a good sense of humor and being there. Our volunteers definitely have this good behavior! Support continues to grow as we enroll volunteers locally and from attendees through out the nation.
Looking forward to 2008, a new kid has walked into the flute neighborhood, the Zion Canyon Native Flute School. The school is a cultural program focused on honoring and perpetuating our spiritual heritage of the traditional Native Flute. Judith Willink is coordinating the school, along with Judy Curtis and others. Our goal is to welcome all levels of players from all backgrounds to open up to the inner musician that is in all of us. It will be a program to learn basic, intermediate and advanced playing skills, history, healing and ceremonial applications of the Native Flute through lecture, demonstrations and experiential exercises from guest instructors. This year's instructors are Vince Chafin - Beginning level, Clint Goss and Vera Shanov- Intermediate, Vince Redhouse - Advanced level. Robert and Julia Gatliff (history & composition) will present as well as Michael Graham Allen (history), Jan Seiden and Michael De Maria (the Healing Flute), Rene Jenkins and Janay Cipriani (the Healing Flute), and Andrea Hanson (Healing Movement to Flute).
When I walk the canyon the ancient petroglpyhs of the Flute Player deity (aka Kokopelli) rock art mark its historical and cultural value to the canyon area. The flute school and festival pays tribute to this ancient legacy. John Vames beginning flute book title sums it up: "Understanding the Gift". The Native Flute School invites you to explore this gift and its ancient heritage as you walk this land. Fluting is easy on the land and natural habit of the National Park Corridors?and it further enhances, if you happen to hear a flute player while hiking. Hopefully, as a result of our programs, we will hear fewer gun shots in the world and more Native Flute echoes off canyon walls.
The dates of this year's festival/school are June 7-15 2008. It begins Saturday, June 7 with a partnership evening concert with Dixie College Celebrity Concert Summer Series at the O.C. Tanner Theater in Springdale spot lighting flautist Vince Redhouse, Guitarist Gabriel Ayala and percussionist Will Clipman. June 8, 9, 10 and 11 the flute school is in session. June 12, the festival begins with site set-up and an all invited reception in the evening. Friday" June 13 the Festival opens with open mic music, food, workshops, vendors and a "Up Close" day concert with flautist Ann Licater and an evening concert presenting Mark Holland & Autumn's Child, Gentle Thunder & Will Clipman, "One Heart" with John Dumas, Jesse Kalu and Three Trees. Saturday continues with more workshops, music and an "Up Close" concert with Michael Graham Allen, aka Coyote Oldman master of the Anasazi flute. The Saturday evening OC Tanner Concert performers will be flautist Gary Stroutsos & pianist David Lanz, violinist and flautist Arvel Bird and "Sacred Winds Consort" with Jan Seiden, Clint Goss & Michael DeMaria. The festival culminates on Sunday with more workshops, an "Up Close" concert with versatile recording artist William Hoshal and "Sunday Afternoon Jamming" on the festival town park day stage. Hope it sounds like a great time to you!
The late song keeper and flute maker Hawke LittleJohn said, "Music is in all our spirits. If you sit in a quiet place and randomly play the flute - magic comes when all doubt is cleared from the mind. It is so easy to play. It makes people peaceful, happy and more content. I am glad that Western people found our Native Flute.?"
Well, so am I! I'm glad for those who have come before and those who will join in soon.
Breathe Well,
Betina Lindsey
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