Native American-Style Flute Festival

9:30 am | Henry Nieves is a descendant of the Taino Natives. He started playing the flute after battling cancer. He found it very healing and therapeutic. Playing the flute had a good effect on his body, mind, and spirit. For Henry, the flute has been a source of beautiful energy and peacefulness in his life. He believes that music is the language of the Soul. Connie Delgado is accompanying Henry with her drums, rattles and other percussion instruments.

10:00 am | Wendy Thompson began playing the Native American Style Flute six years ago with no prior musical training but with a love of all types of flute music. That love and discovering the ease of learning to play this instrument has led to an inspiring retirement hobby, complemented by a beautiful community of like-minded enthusiasts. There is nothing better than creating and sharing music and love with this wondrously simple instrument. Honoring historical tradition, Wendy plays primarily from the heart in the moment.

10:30 am | Nathan Tsosie is of full-blooded Native descent, registered with the Dine’ (Navajo) tribe. He has played the Native American flute for over thirty years. He has lectured on the Native American flute for the Arizona Flute Society and for grade school children on the Navajo reservation. He has collaborated on recordings with various performing artists.

11:00 am | Wind Spirits songs are comprised of original music that includes guitar/flute and flute duet songs. Greg Marek and Dave Hyde met at the Apache Junction Library in 2023, both attending the Native American Style Flute workshop. In October of 2023, Dave and Greg started jamming together and soon realized that they had very similar taste in music and started creating their own songs and style of music. Both Greg and Dave have a combined 25 years of flute playing experience and Dave has over 30 years of guitar playing experience. Wind Spirits incorporates several varieties of flutes, including multi-chambered and bass flutes in its songs.

11:30 am | Cindy Green has been playing the NAS Flute since 1996, where she took her first lessons at a local bookstore. A native of California, she was a member of the Northern California Native Flute Circle, where she attended workshops taught by many popular NAS Flute recording artists. When she moved to Arizona in 2006, she was involved in open mic sessions and flute circle participation, where she gained the courage to play in public! As a Prayer Chaplain for Interfaith CommUnity, Cindy has played for church services and in hospitals for patients. A real passion since 1996 is her work as a drum making instructor with her company, Drumheart. She has worked with people of all walks of life as well as indigenous people of many nations introducing them to drum making. The most rewarding experience was assisting 30 participants of all ages, Havasupai people, in Supai Village, AZ. Another interest of hers is playing flute, whistles and percussion instruments in Sound Bath events. Since recently retiring as a licensed massage therapist of 20 years, her goal is to offer sound healing sessions to her community.

12:00 pm | Calming Wind—Howard Sadler born in west Texas, I love the sight and sound of the old west when I moved to Arizona. Many years ago I heard a sound that touched me deep inside my soul. I found the calling of the Native American flute. I picked one up and within a few months I was playing it well. Now 17 years later I have produced three CDs and played at some big event such as at the AZ Diamond Backs Native American recognition day. Through DNA I found out I am part of the Coahuila tribe in northern Mexico with some off shoot of the Aztecs.

12:30 pm | Saggio is a former student of R. Carlos Nakai. He began his flute journey in 1995 after hearing an R. Carlos Nakai cassette tape. “I play these flutes without knowing how,” says Saggio. “It is because I AM what I play. I put my head under my arm and I play with my heart. I PRAY my flutes to carry me to that quiet place deep within, where I can experience the thunder of silence.
Saggio has recorded 7 CDs. You can hear his music on Spotify, itunes, Amazon, CD Baby, Apple Music, Tik Tok and You Tube. The past 20 years Saggio and his wife Barbara Ruth have conducted Healing Sound Meditations in their geodesic Dome in Apache Junction. Barbara Ruth played her 25 Crystal Singing Bowls with Saggio on his Native American Flutes and other World Instruments. They are now retired. This self-taught artist describes his music as … an inspiring, triumphant sound painting to journey within.

1:00 pm | Pendleton Spicer has been involved with music in one way or another all her life. She has played several instruments, allowing music to be a big part of her life. She always loved playing any kind of instrument but when she discovered the Native American style flute, she was hooked. That introduction happened New Year’s Eve 2001. She taught herself the basics, joined flute circles, participated in numerous classes, took some lessons, and became an accomplished player of heart songs. She can read music but prefers the freedom of playing from her heart. She is fond of saying, as she introduces a song, “You have never heard this song before and most likely will not hear it again.” Pendleton is visually impaired as a result of a stroke that occurred in July of 2024. She considers herself very fortunate in that no other part of her body or mind was permanently affected by the stroke. However, her life was turned upside down due to the fact that she can no longer drive along with losing half her visual field. But that does not stop Pendleton from loving to play her flutes, especially when she can share the music that comes through her and her flutes for others to experience and enjoy

1:30 pm | Joe Yeatman is a flute maker, collector, broker, musician, and recording artist. As a flute maker, he makes flutes exclusively from the stalks of the Yucca Plant. He makes Native American Style and Mojave flutes. He sells them now and then, but it’s more of a hobby than income. As a collector, Joe has a personal collection of around 100 flutes made by some of the most well-known and
significant makers from the 1980’s through the present day. As a broker, he has bought hundreds of flutes, from estates and the collections of other players and recording artists. Then re-homed them to other players and collectors all across the country, and abroad. A few of Joe’s local flute friends call him “The Flute Whisperer” due to his track record of locating and acquiring special, hard-to-find pieces. As a musician, Joe music is original, playing improvisation, embracing what the Japanese call WabiSabi. As a recording artist, Joe has released 10 albums and 10 singles, running the gamut between traditional to New Age, each song is an improvisation.

2:00 pm | Jonah Littlesunday is Diné (“The People – Navajo”). He was born in Tuba City, AZ on the Navajo Nation, originally from Dinebito’. I lived in two beautiful lands, one in Grey Mountain with my grandparents and the other under the sacred Dookosliid San Francisco Peaks (in Flagstaff, Arizona). My clan is Áshįįhi (Salt People) born for the Kinłichii’nii (Red House Clan). My maternal grandfather is of the Tł‘ááshchí’í (Red Bottom People) and my paternal grandfather is of the Mą’ii deeshgiizhinii (Coyote Pass Clan). My wife, Pauline is from the Santa Cruz California area and is Mexican, Spanish and White. My journey with the Native American Flute was inspired by words my cheii (“grandfather”) shared with me. He always taught me to pray. One day, I took my flute and prayed for one of our injured sheep. A stray dog had ripped into its leg. I prayed with my flute for its pain and healing. It fell asleep. I still continue to pray. I pray through my songs for kids, elders and hospital patients. It has been through this practice that I discovered there are no limits to your music. All you have to do is remember who you are. A prayer always helps. Life’s journey is like a leaf in the air. There are times you can’t control your fate. You just have to have faith and float with it. Through it all, I have had the honor of entertaining elders, audiences across North America, injured animals and wonderful kids. Ahe’hee (Navajo for “thank you.”).

2:30 pm | Celia Jose ~ Born and raised in Tucson, AZ, moved to Casa Grande in 1995. Celia quickly felt like home. Celia is a Native American and Mexican American whose ancestors are Tohono O’Odham and Pasqua Yaqui. Celia began playing the Native American flute in 1999, where she would share the music on the Main Street Patio. More recently, Celia has played at events in AZ, including, Del Sol Casino in Tucson, the Casa Grande Historical Museum, the Phoenix Botanical Gardens, Pueblo Grande Museum in Phoenix, the Coolidge Artisan Village and has played with other members of the Arizona Flute Circle at the at The Paramount Theater in Casa Grande as well at personal and business events. ”I experience inner peace when sharing the mystic sounds of the Native American flute with all who are called to its message. The music of the flute enhances my own spiritual journey and its sound provides others the opportunity to, if even for a moment, transcend to a divine place within where peace and love and light are experienced.”

3:00 pm | Ken Morgan has been performing as a woodwind and recording artist (flutes, saxophones, and clarinet) for over 60 years. His musical tastes have always been very eclectic as a result of being open to all forms of music. Ken has performed in symphony orchestras, jazz groups, World music ensembles, and has been called on to back up well known artists & touring shows such as Louis Armstrong, Henry Mancini, Aretha Franklin, the Broadway Beatles tribute group Rain, the Houston Opera Company’s Porgy & Bess. Ice Capades, Ringling Brothers Circus, to name just a few.
Ken has produced five recordings under his own leadership. His initial jazz recording Live At Chaps On Main was selected as “one of the top eight jazz releases of the year” by the Detroit News (alongside recordings by Duke Ellington & Ella Fitzgerald). Ken was also a college music instructor for over 40 years, teaching woodwinds, improvisation, music history, & directing ensembles. He has shared his passion for music at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Grand Valley State University, and Nazareth College where he developed a World music course before World music was recognized as important to a music curriculum. Ken’s most recent recording project “Serenading Mother Earth” features original “environmental/spiritual” poetry along with two renowned World music artists, Gary Stroutsos – Flutes and Jim Cooper – Vibraphonist.
Ken is also the co-founder of the Pine Ridge Flute Society on the Lakota Pine Ridge Reservation in S. Dakota. Ken also served on the Board of Directors of Re-Member, a non-profit volunteer organization that has served the Lakota people at Pine Ridge for over 20 years.

3:30 pm | Liquid Flame – Adora and Zen are a Duality dissolving duo, giving hint to one of the many meanings behind the name. We believe in the individual and collective power of using life’s struggles as fuel for creation. Music has been one of many life-changing modalities that has profoundly healed us, so we blend elements of ancient shamanic roots with modern technology to bring you a unique, majestic soundscape experience. Zen is a jack of all trades multi-instrumentalist and specializes in playing Native American Flutes (single + double), as well as yidaki (didgeridoo) and throat singing. Adora defies duality at the heart, a small Fae who keeps a big beat; as the drummer of LF, her hypnotic voice and infused toning will take you deep while simultaneously maintaining a lighthearted disposition. Our Liquid Flame performance can transport you to etheric places, and offers a space of authentic community connection. 

Karl Milbauer I started playing flute in John Vames class at Scottsdale Community College. Before COVID, I played at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden, Desert Botanical Garden, Butterfly Wonderland, Tuesday’s Group, Pueblo Grande Indian Market and various flute circles.