Native American-Style Flute Festival

9:30–10:00 | Henry Delgado 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.

10:00-10:25 | 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.

10:30-10:55 | 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.

11:00-11:25 | 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 tastes 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.

11:30-11:55 | Ron Bonnstetter has combined his love of music with his professional life by giving special attention to the effect of music while studying decision-making neurological pathways. With this knowledge of brain function and his intuitive, advanced musical skills, he is able to maximize the healing power of music using Native American Flutes.

12:00-12:25 | 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.

12:30-12:55 | 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.

1:00-1:25 | Randall Lenski Native American Style Flute journey started seven years ago. A friend invited me to see a live flute performance by Rona Yellow Robe, a well-known Native American Flutist. I was captivated by the sound of these wonderful instruments. I started researching information on how to play and make Native American-style flutes, and it quickly became my hobby. I had very little previous musical or woodworking experience. I learned by reading books on the subject as well as watching online videos. I currently enjoy getting together with other Native American-style flute enthusiasts as well as educating those who are interested in learning more about the Native American-style flute.

1:30-1:55 |  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.

2:00-2:25 | 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.

2:30-2:55 | 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.

3:00-3:25 | 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 Even 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 in 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 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.

3:30-3:55 | Larry Rybka & Vicki Koernig. Vickie and Larry began playing Native American Flutes in 2013. In 2016, they began selling “High Spirits” flutes at various expos and interactive teaching workshops in the greater Phoenix area. Since 2022, they have been involved with the Apache Junction Public Library’s Native Flute Circles and classes and have assisted with the library’s Native Flute Festival. They have published a small book, “Beyond the Native Scale”, which reflects on their past decade of Native Flute activities. For information, see: Song-Within Facebook Page