2023 Performers
The 2023 lineup of talented and renowned musicians at Flutestock, Oregon.
Download the main schedule.
Mary Youngblood
Native flute legend Mary Youngblood, half Seminole and half Aleut, is the first woman to professionally record on the Native American-style flute, and the first woman to win not just one, but two, Grammy Awards. Since those firsts, she has been called the “First Lady” of the Flute.
Mary is the first Native American woman to have received a Grammy Award for "Best Native American Music Album" and the first Native American person to have won two Grammys which makes Mary one of the premiere Native American musicians in the country. Winner of numerous awards, Mary garnered the 2002 Grammy for her album “Beneath the Raven Moon” and the 2006 Grammy for the album, “Dance with the Wind.”
She started piano lessons at age 6, violin at 8, and classical flute and guitar at 10. As an adult, when Mary received her first wooden Native flute, she was driven to pursue the mastery of this instrument so tied to her own heritage but traditionally played only by men.
Mary furthers her craft and knowledge of music and her Native traditions through teaching.
At Flutestock 2023 she will be teaching classes on embellishments for players of all skill levels, from beginning to advanced.
For music and videos, see her YouTube channel: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCmwx5Oi8u3Ju5ej3XG2Kjyg.
Rona Yellowrobe
Singer, songwriter, storyteller, and inspirational speaker, Rona is known for her deep and powerful singing voice, her flute playing, and her heart-filled presence.
Winner of the 2014 and 2016 Native American Music Awards (NAMA) Flutist of the Year award, she is an enrolled member of the Chippewa-Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy, Montana.
She and her music partner Bruce Witham have played hundreds of events including festivals, art shows, museums, schools, weddings, memorial services, powwows, and holiday celebrations. They have honored military veterans and their families with their music, and have partnered with Multicare Hospice and CHI Franciscan Hospice in Washington State for 15 years.
Meanwhile, Rona has been expanding and honing her skills as a music teacher and workshop facilitator.
At Flutestock 2023, she will lead her “Caterpillar & Butterfly” Workshop designed to teach players how to effectively use storytelling as an introduction to a song, how to engagingly use embellishments of notes and phrases within the basic scale, and how to transition from a major scale back to the basic scale — while keeping it simple, and having fun.
To listen to her music, see her YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@ronayellowrobe9169/featured or her website https://www.ronayellowrobe.net/music
Johnny Lipford
Jonny has more than 20 years of experience with the Native American flute and various world flutes. He has written more than 200 original songs, released 18 commercial albums, and toured nationally, appearing for audiences of up to 14,000 people. In the process, he has amassed dozens of accolades for his work.
Not only is Jonny a gifted musician, he is also an accomplished and highly sought-after instructor. He leads thousands of students each year through courses, workshops, lessons, and an exceptional online learning membership program. Students say he breaks down complex concepts and makes them easy to understand, while connecting warmly and encouraging students.
In 2020, he launched Horizons Flute School, an online learning platform that teaches students of all levels how to play the Native American flute, develop their skills, and expand their creativity. Numerous players attending Flutestock 2023 are among Jonny’s online students.
At Flutestock 2023, Jonny will teach “Enhance to Excel: Personalized Flute Evaluation,” a group workshop designed to take players’ skills to the next level, for all who want to dig deep and grow as musicians. It’s designed to create a supportive environment where everyone can learn from each other, while exploring such elements as embellishments, phrasing, dynamics, volume, space, and melodic and rhythmic hooks.
To listen to Jonny’s music, see his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JonnyLipford/playlists
Timothy J.P. Gomez
Award-winning musician Timothy is a composer, performer, and teacher of the Native American-style flute. His music combines depth and emotional impact with fluid, intricate technical skills.
At Flutestock 2023, Timothy will teach “Flute Workout! Flute Exercises, Patterns, and a whole lot of Flute Playing.” He describes it as “a fun and very interactive workshop.” He will teach exercises and techniques to assist and encourage attendees to further develop their flute-playing skills and songwriting methods.
Timothy is also known for making exquisite miniature-flute jewelry. (And no, he’s not related to J.P. Gomez, noted creator of full-size flutes made for actual playing.)
To listen to his music, see Timothy’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TimothyJPGomez/videos
Paul Harvey
Paul describes himself as an ironworker, dad, actor, and part-time flute player. On Facebook, Paul “the Flute Guy” is often seen in construction worker garb: neon yellow safety vest, hard hat, and work boots. When he plays his flutes on a break at his workplace — towering, skeletal buildings under construction —the surroundings provide natural reverb.
After uploading his first flute video, “Concrete Peace,” he received a message from a woman who said she had been planning to end her life that night — until she listened to his song and changed her mind. That made Paul decide he had to share the healing power of flute music with others.
For more about him, see this TV interview: https://youtu.be/nSbBrPGg878
To hear his music, visit his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PaulHarveyFluteguy/videos
Tommy Graven
Tommy is known to fans as an energetic & entertaining performer — with some endearing craziness thrown in — on both guitar and Native-style flute.
Of Native (Nimi’ipuu) descent, he is an award-winning musician, multi-instrumentalist, and composer for TV and film, as well as a recording artist and teacher. He brings emotive songs and inventive, complex soundscapes to the listener.
Tommy will teach two workshops at Flutestock 2023: One is “The Very Basics of Music Theory,” where he’ll use his looper and guitar to break down, demystify, and make useful a subject that otherwise intimidates many flute players. The workshop will be based on the pentatonic minor scale.
The second workshop is similar but will use a different scale.
To listen to his music, see his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZWcWv6m9B12q1qHFm7u9Xw
Geri Littlejohn
One of the few women flutemakers, Geri is that rare combination of healing sound practitioner, performer, and flutemaker. She has been making flutes for 24 years and started playing flutes publicly about seven years ago.
She has played to greet the sun and to put the day to rest, at births, weddings and at death beds, for yoga workshops, weekend retreats, ecstatic dances, and in service to her community. Geri has been a featured performer at numerous Native American-style flute festivals, and she opens and closes a North Carolina arts festival twice a year with flute song.
Geri describes her flute playing as “sonic offerings of love, support, and gratitude.”
At Flutestock 2023, Geri will lead two workshops: “Silent Walking Meditation,” based on the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, and “Sound Immersion in Theory and Practice,” which will conclude with a 30- to 45-minute sound offering for relaxation.
To learn more about Geri, see her website: https://www.wicozaniflutes.com/geri-little-john
Pamela Mortensen
In 2005, Pamela encountered David Hudson’s didgeridoo album, “Rainbow Serpent,” in a Seattle record store. She emerged with a fire to learn to play the didge.
Although didgeridoo is primarily used as a drone, Pamela makes it her featured instrument. She is equally at home with synthesizer, piano, organ, hand percussion, and voice, often combining these with didge in recordings and performances.
She has performed with it at fairs, festivals, house concerts, and stages in the western states, Canada, and Mexico. She also makes elegant miniature didges to sell as jewelry.
For Flutestock 2023, Pamela is preparing several workshops on circular breathing (useful in many wind instruments) and on playing the didge.
To sample her music, visit her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@didgegirl6/videos