Flute in the Wild

June 21 – June 27, 2026

Some of you may know about my Flute in the Wild project, where I commission new pieces from Canadian composers inspired by their favourite Canadian wild space. I record them and make the scores available for all flutists to learn and play to share Canadian music-making.

As part of this project I hire musicians, innovative filmmakers, sound engineers, cover designers, publicity and marketing professionals, and I travel to perform these pieces for new audiences.

I released the first album in 2021 with the help of grants from FACTOR and Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council. All the arts have recently seen DRASTIC cuts in funding since then and many artists have been left with no support and this is where music-lovers come in.

THE SECOND ALBUM

The second album in the project features western Canadian composers and wild spaces, and I’m so excited to launch it in Calgary! I have recorded all the new pieces, they are just beautiful, and I even wrote a piece of my own for flute and fx pedals that I know you’ll love.

My goal has always been to celebrate and amplify Canadian artistic voices at home and internationally and I do this through personally connecting with musicians around the world, being a guest on podcasts, active social media activities, and performing.

CROSS-COUNTRY BY TRAIN TO CELEBRATE CANADIAN MUSIC-MAKING

This is why I am crossing the country by train from Toronto to Calgary, to connect with people along the way and get the word out that we have fantastic home-grown composers worth playing and listening to. I need some help now to get the message amplified that Canada has a rich resource of composers and performers!

Help me connect East to West and support the recording release and performance of the Flute in the Wild, Western volume! I'll be travelling across the country meeting musicians and composers along the way with the help of Anderson Vacations

PLAYING WHERE MY COMPOSERS WERE INSPIRED

I will also be improvising and composing music in the same spaces that my composers were inspired by for the pieces they wrote for me! Playing in the same wild spaces will consist of improvisation for flute and hand drums/small percussion as I respond to the spaces that also inspired my composers. Any musicians joining me on the trip will be invited to also play once we are done.

We will be able to play in two spots from the album:

Jasper. Joseph Lai wrote a piece with three movements. Jasper on fire, Mt Edith Cavell, and Maligne Canyon. Alas the canyon is still inaccessible, but we will be honouring Jasper in a lovely spot once we debark the train.
Foothills of the Rockies near Calgary. Sean Clarke wrote a piece recalling the sunrises at the foothills and we will find the prettiest spot to share the sunrise with you and improvise a musical experience.

VIA RAIL ARTIST ON BOARD

I am proud to have been chosen as a VIA Rail Canada Artist on Board where I’ll be playing several times per day on board, at stations, and in the wild along my route to Calgary. If you’re a musician, you can jam with me between sets!

Here is how you can participate in the adventure!

Join me for the WILD CANADIAN MUSIC TRAIN ADVENTURE! Purchasing a package from me gets you deep into the adventure with jam time with my band, epic landscapes, and an experience you won’t forget!
Economy and Sleeper+ class options available. Includes train fare, hotel in Calgary, sound immersion experiences in Jasper and Canmore Caves, guided tour of Bell Studio/National Music Centre, and access to keynote concert rehearsal and performance. Contact me for prices as they drop the more people sign on!
Join me direct in Calgary for the keynote concert and celebration. Ticket link coming soon, send me an email and I’ll add you to the list. thewildflute@gmail.com
If you can’t make it to Calgary, a donation to the project Go Fund Me is gratefully accepted. https://gofund.me/8d9962ad8
Send this info to someone who just might be into this adventure and/or supporting arts in this very direct way!

SIGN UP BY MARCH 30!

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