Flute Bay Area

The public is invited to watch the legendary Jim Walker lead a master class for young flutists on Monday, July 28, at the Northern California Flute Camp in Hidden Valley near Carmel. Walker is this year's recipient of the National Flute Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. Formerly principal flute for the L.A. Philharmonic, he is widely revered in both jazz and classical circles. In addition to performing and recording, Walker devotes himself to developing new generations of musical talent. He leads the flute studies program at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music and teaches flute and chamber music at The Colburn School for the Performing Arts. For information and tickets to see Jim Walker's master class, click here.

Masters Hang Out in Hidden Valley

Highly acclaimed flutist and teacher Jill Felber presents a master class at Hidden Valley on Wednesday, July 30. Felber, a professor at U.C. Santa Barbara, has performed as a soloist and chamber musician on four continents. Renowned for her commitment to new music, she has debuted over 300 pieces for flute. Felber is also highly sought for her motivational teaching style -- this summer, she will teach in New York, Washington, Ohio, and Iowa, as well as here in California. For information and tickets to watch Jill Felber's master class, click here.

Summerflute Returns to San Rafael

A perennial favorite, the Summerflute program returns to the Santa Sabina Conference Center in San Rafael, this year, after a brief stint in Oakland. Summerflute's faculty concert on Monday, July 14, features Finnish flutist Liisa Ruoho, Sandy Seefeld, Amy Likar, Stacey Pelinka, Lea Pearson, and the beloved Miles Graber as collaborative pianist. Contact Amy Likar or Meerenai Shin at 415-309-8364 for details.

Talent Flows at Three Rivers

The fifth annual Three Rivers master class includes a gala concert with some very special performers, at St. Anthony's Retreat on Saturday, July 26. St. Anthony's sits at the western foot of the Sierras, four miles from Sequoia National Park -- an interesting place to find Jim Walker in concert with Mary Karen Clardy, Tracy Harris, and the Wyndfall Flute Choir. For more information, contact Tracy Harris through the class website here.

Tim Day Tuesdays in Santa Barbara

Tuesdays in July, Tim Day, principal flute with the San Francisco Symphony and professor at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, leads a master class at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. Recognized as one of the world's top summer programs for aspiring, pre-professional musicians, the Academy is housed at Miraflores, a private estate set on 10 beautiful acres. Day, whose long list of achievements also includes 12 years as principal flute with the Baltimore Symphony, has been on the program's faculty since 1992. Class begins at 1:00 p.m. in Singher Hall, and the public is welcome to watch for free. Find out about the master classes here and about additional events in the Academy's Summer Festival here.

Catch Silicon Valley's Starr in Saratoga

Brilliant and effervescent Isabelle Chapuis Starr

leads a flute master class in Saratoga on Thursday, July 24. The class, at West Valley College, is free and open to the public. It is part of Elena Yarritu's annual, summer training program for college and teen flute students.

No other California flutist embodies the legendary French school better than Chapuis Starr. Born in Dijon, she attended the Paris Conservatory, in the flute class of Jean-Pierre Rampal. In 1971, she won the Conservatory's prestigious premier prix de flûte and, in 1972, the Conservatory's premier prix de musique de chambre. Chapuis Starr relocated to the Bay Area in 1975, where she has been a major force for all things "flute". Recently retired from the Department of Music at San Jose State University, she continues teach as well as to perform in the U.S. and abroad. She also serves as Principal Flute of the Orchestra of Opera San José and the San José Chamber Orchestra.

For a schedule of events in Elena Yarritu's summer program, including Chapuis Starr's master class and a concert by Yarritu, click here.

Flutes@Music@Menlo

Music@Menlo Chamber Music Festival and Institute presents Toward Bach, a concert of works by Bach's influential predecessors and greatest contemporaries. The program features rising talents Demarre McGill and Sooyun Kim in performance with Kathryn Greenbank (oboe) and Dennis Godburn (bassoon). Other artists on this program include the Escher Quartet.

Sooyun Kim debuted at age ten with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. A devoted chamber musician, she is a member of the Nobis Trio, the 2007 New England Conservatory Honors Chamber Ensemble, and has appeared regularly at the Spoleto USA summer festival. In 2007, she was named a "Young Leader of Tomorrow" by the Korean Daily Central News for her achievement and contribution to her native Korea.

Demarre McGill is principal flute of the San Diego Symphony and former acting principal flute of the Pittsburgh Symphony. He is on the faculty at San Diego State University. He has performed across the U.S., including with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as at Tanglewood, Marlboro and Ravinia.

Toward Bach debuts Friday, July 19, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Palo Alto and is repeated on July 20 and 21 at Menlo School in Atherton. Tickets and information are available here.