Evening Performances

MUSIC WITHOUT BORDERS
Gary shares a unique evening, bringing to life his travels and associations with ethnic cultures through time-honored stories and sacred songs from his diverse catalog of recordings inside the world music of the American Indian, Afro Cuban, contemporary meditation Asian, American world jazz and his first roots, folk pop music from the sixties.

Lost Melodies from Native Lands Performed on Traditional American Indian Flutes
Zuni Sunrise - Traditional
Cherished Grandmother - Dakota Traditional
Along the River - Hidatsa Traditional
Night of the Sun - Original Gary Stroutsos

Afro Cuban Sacred Music Performed on 100-year-old concert C Wood Flute
Eleggua - Yoruban Chant
Siboney - Cuban Standard
Mia Cuba - Danzon Mambo

Pan Asian Suite of Original Contemporary Meditative Compositions Performed on Chinese Bamboo Xiao and Dize Flutes Seldom Heard Outside the Walls of China
Stone Garden
Sea of Clouds
Spirit Romance

Sacred Clay Suite "The Earth Shall Endure" - Original Compositions Performed on Ceramic Wind Instruments Made by Clay Artist, Rod Kendall

American Jazz Flute Compositions performed on 100-year-old Concert C Wood Flute and Xiao Flute
Oasis - Yusef Lateef
Fingers in the Wind - Roland Kirk
Inside the Taj Mahal - Paul Horn
Xiao Messenger at Midnight - Original Xiao Composition

These time-honored suites extend the range and scope of world flute music spanning over years of traditions and Gary's own personal field work. Recording over 25 years, his main influences and personal studies have been with James Newton, the foremost jazz flutist today; Cuban flutist, Danilo Lozano; and Paul Thompson, Navajo flute maker and culture bearer.

Children's Performances

As a father I so enjoy being with children of all ages. I have had so many wonderful moments engaging children with my stories and flute music. To see their face's light up when I play is such a joy to me.

I feel to be most effective I need to be in a small group setting of no more than 60 children at a time. I like the group to sit in a circle so they can hear me speak and perform on my flutes. They want to see the flutes up close and really feel in their hearts the music I am playing for them. The presentation is usually 40 minutes long with ten minutes for questions and answers. I like the questions for it really helps me define my work.

Creating their own flute drawings and thank you notes inspired by the presentation are also very important to me for they help me better understand what the children enjoy most. I want them to understand how the natural world and music go hand in hand and that they can use nature to inspire them to play music on any kind of instrument. I share a glimpse of the world I have experienced through music and various cultures so one day they may take a journey themselves inspired by me.
Download sample children's story

Lecture and Master Class

"Winds of Honor" is the enduring legacy of American Indian traditional love songs and world flute music spanning many generations of our time. Join Gary Stroutsos, international world flute recording artist and cultural storyteller through time honored stories and songs from his diverse catalog of music. The presentation will include American Indian traditional songs from his historical recording inside Canyon de Chelly with Gary’s mentor and flute maker, Navajo culture bearer, Paul Thompson. Gary will also share Northern Plains music from the Mandan and Lakota tribes from his featured work with Ken Burns on the PBS film “Lewis & Clark: Journey of the Corps of Discovery.” Gary says, “My wish is to share what has been shared with me over the years in a good way for all to better understand the deep traditions of stories & songs”. If you listen close you can hear the land and the ancient voices inside the music of the American Indian.”

Gary will also share a perspective of pan global Chinese bamboo flute sounds seldom heard outside the walls of China with his Xiao and Dize flutes. The presentation will conclude with a solo American Jazz flute tribute to innovators such as Paul Horn and Herbie Mann. These jazz artists first inspired Gary to take up the concert flute. This tribute will be performed on a 1904 African wood Haynes concert flute. Following the presentation will be a Q&A and a flute viewing of Gary’s collection.