Catie Balsamo is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music Performance at the University of South Carolina under the instruction of Dr. Jennifer Parker-Harley. Originally from Princeton, New Jersey, Catie has spent her education thus far becoming as well-rounded of a musician as possible. Prior to entering college, Catie graduated with High Honors from the Honors Music Program outside of her high school  through Westminster Conservatory after studying chamber music, jazz, composition, conducting, and history there for four years. She was also a participant in the NFA High School Flute Choir for three years where she had the opportunity to perform in San Diego, Minneapolis, and Orlando under the direction of Darrin Thaves, Wendy Kumer, and George Pope. In July of 2018, Catie also had the opportunity to travel across six countries in Europe with a concert band comprised of select students from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. She has also played in masterclasses for Jim Walker, Bart Feller, Nina Assimakopoulos, and Valerie Coleman, and attended ARIA International Music Academy where she also received masterclasses from Linda Toote, Alexa Still, and Jonathan Keeble. Aside from music, Catie also enjoys baking, traveling, and hiking. 

Laurie Baynard is a DMA candidate at the University of South Carolina studying under Dr. Jennifer Parker-Harley. Prior to USC, Laurie lived in Connecticut where she served as co-principal flutist of the United States Coast Guard Band, as well as flutist for the official Flute and Harp Duo of the Coast Guard band for six years. She has performed in venues across the country including Avery Fischer Hall, Meyerson Symphony Hall, and the Kauffman Center. In addition, she frequently performed in venues around D.C. for formal military ceremonies and for presidential ceremonies including the inaugurations of President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump. Laurie was selected as a semifinalist for the 2019 Myrna Brown Young Artist competition. In addition, she has performed with the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Augusta Symphony and the Greenville Symphony. When she is not playing flute, she spends her time with her two little girls, Abigail and Emily, brand new baby boy, Levi, and her husband Tim. Laurie has a Master's degree from The University of Georgia, and a Bachelor's degree from Southern Wesleyan University. 

Katie Bono is a freshman pursuing her Bachelor of Music Education at the University of South Carolina where she studies under Dr. Parker-Harley. She is from Clover, South Carolina, and graduated from Clover High School. She was a member of Clover’s flute choir for five years. She has attended several band clinics, including Region Band and All State. She did marching band in high school for 4 years. During that time, she was a soloist and was drum major. Currently Katie is a member of the Carolina Marching Band. She actively plays flute at her church, and she also sings in the choir there. Outside of music, Katie enjoys watching movies and cooking.

Dana Crytser is a senior at the University of South Carolina where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Music with a concentration in chamber music. Originally from Greenville, South Carolina, Dana is a graduate of the SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities where she received an arts diploma in music. Dana has been recognized in numerous competitions including first place wins in the Florida Flute Association Collegiate Artist Competition, South Carolina Flute Society Collegiate Competition, and Wisconsin Flute Festival Collegiate Artist Competition. Most recently, Dana was selected as a quarter-finalist in the 2021 National Flute Association Young Artist Competition. Dana is extremely passionate about environmental preservation and conservation and hopes to pursue a career at the intersection of musical performance and environmental activism. In her spare time, Dana enjoys hiking, running, and spending time with her cat, Dmitri.

Jenny Davis is a DMA candidate at the University of South Carolina and teaches flute Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. She is the director of Memphis-based Blueshift Ensemble and other current projects include experimental flute duo if.else and Opus901 chamber music series. In addition to her work as a flutist, Jenny is a performance coordinator at Crosstown Arts in Memphis and organizer of the Continuum Music Festival. Jenny has been a prize winner in competitions such as the Pappoutsakis Flute Competition, the Flute Society of Kentucky Young Artist Competition, COFA Young Artist Competition, Byron Hester Solo Flute Competition, and semifinalist in the Myrna Brown and RAFA Artist Competitions. She holds degrees from Boston University, Middle Tennessee State Univ., and additional studies at Trevor Wye Flute Studio in England.

Annie Eaton is a senior at the University of South Carolina studying Flute Performance under Dr. Jennifer Parker-Harley. Originally from Saint Petersburg Florida, Annie graduated from the Pinellas County Center for the Arts with honors. In addition to pursuing her Bachelor’s, Annie has received a Certificate of Completion from Trevor Wye’s Studio. Annie is passionate about performing music by underrepresented composers, and finding a place in the repertoire for these voices. When not playing, she can usually be found running, hiking, or just being outdoors.

Roya Farzaneh is a DMA candidate at the University of South Carolina. She holds flute performance degrees from The University of Akron (M.M. ‘14), Middle Tennessee State University (B.M. ‘12) and Certificate of Completion from Trevor Wye’s Flute Studio. Her principal teachers include Jennifer Parker-Harley, George Pope, Trevor Wye, and Deanna Little. She has advanced in several young artist competitions including South Carolina Flute Society, Flute Society of Kentucky, Myrna Brown Artist, and Central Ohio Flute Association. She has also presented and performed at several conventions including Mid-Atlantic, Mid-South, and the National Flute Association conventions. Roya has performed with the Long Bay Symphony, the Rock Hill Symphony, and the Guelph Symphony in Ontario, Canada.

Ziqing Guan is a DMA student at the University of South Carolina studying under Dr. Jennifer Parker-Harley. She is originally from Guangzhou, China. Before coming to United States, Ziqing earned her Bachelor degree in flute performance in Xinghai Conservatory of Music in China. She won a second prize in the quartet competition in the China Flute Association Competition in 2014. She received her Master degree in flute performance in Texas State University, where she studied with Dr. Adah Toland Jones. Ziqing had attended the Texas State Chamber Orchestra European Tour in 2017 with performances in Prague, Luxembourg and Budapest. In addition, she was one of the performers in the 2016 Musicartissimo Flute Master Class and Recital in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Emma Lacey is a freshman at the University of School Carolina where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Music Performance under Dr. Jennifer Parker-Harley. She recently graduated from the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. While in Greenville, Emma studied with Dr. Caroline Ulrich and was the principal flutist of the Greenville County Youth Orchestra from 2018-2019. Prior to attending the Governor’s School, she studied with Julie Diamond for three years in Charleston, SC. She has attended The Consummate Flutist Summer Masterclass Series, the ARIA International Music Academy, and the Carolina Music Conservatory.  Emma has performed in master classes for Alexa Still, Linda Toote, Aaron Goldman, Leone Buyse, Lorna McGhee, Alberto Almarza, and the Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet. In 2019, she was selected to perform in Piccolo Spoleto’s Rising Stars Performance series, and placed 2nd in the South Carolina Flute Society’s Senior Artist Competition. Outside of music, Emma enjoys speaking French, painting, and hiking.

Christian Lampkin is a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at the University of South Carolina School of Music studying with Dr. Jennifer Parker-Harley as a SPARK Graduate Assistant and a Grace Jordan McFadden Future African American Professors Fellow. Additionally, Christian serves as the Adjunct Professor of Flute and Music Appreciation at South Carolina State University. He was the first graduate student to earn two concurrent graduate degrees in Flute Performance and Music Education at the University of Iowa School of Music. He holds two undergraduate degrees in Flute Performance and Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Additional studies include the Curtis Institute of Music Mentorship Network Program where he earned a certificate of completion in the studio of Sonora Slocum on full scholarship. Christian has been a prize winner in competitions held by the Upper Midwest Flute Association, Colorado Flute Artist Competition, and the Schubert Club of Minneapolis. He serves on the executive board of the Upper Midwest Flute Association and is a founding member of the Umoja Flute Institute for flutists of African descent. His research interests include providing inclusion and belonging to students that identify as LGBTQ+ through private pedagogy and flute repertoire by LGBTQ+ composers from the twentieth century. His principal teachers include Dr. James W. Hall, Brook Ferguson, Nicole Esposito, and Sonora Slocum.

How does the music found in the natural world relate to that found in the human world? This essential question drives the artistic pursuits of collaborator, musician, and adventurer, Blair Mothersbaugh. He is active in collaboration and activism in the Columbia, SC, area, both as a founding member of flute quartet Duende and The Collective, a modern chamber ensemble with a focus on citizen artistry. Blair holds leadership roles in the National Flute Association and South Carolina Flute Society. Masterclass appearances include Claire Chase, Goran Marcusson, Nicole Chamberlain, and Robert Dick, among others. Maintaining a passion for choral music as well as instrumental, he has performed in numerous locations in Europe and across the U.S. He has shared the stage with the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, Conspirare Company of Voices, Southern Exposure New Music Series, and Grammy Award-winning Pacific MusicWorks. A native of the Mountain West, Blair is an avid outdoorsman, and can often be found wandering natural spaces with a flute and a backpack. He enjoys photography, cooking, and dogs. Primary mentors include Jennifer Parker-Harley, David Cutler, Nicole Riner, and Nicole Lamartine. MM, University of South Carolina; BME, University of Wyoming.

Olivia Norton is currently a Freshman at the University of South Carolina pursuing a Bachelor of Music Performance degree under Dr. Parker-Harley. She is from Maryville, Illinois and recently graduated from Collinsville High School with top honors. In Collinsville, she studied with Carmen Rose and Dr. Shelly Monier, and was also a member of the Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville Flute Studio and Flute Choir. Olivia has participated in numerous ILMEA District and All-State festivals, Solo and Ensemble contests, and was also the principal flutist for the Webster University’s Young People’s Symphonic Orchestra. She recently received 3rd prize in the Flute Society of Saint Louis’s High School Young Artist Competition. Olivia has performed in master classes for Clara Richter, Paul Thompson, and Natalia Gerakis. She has also attended the WildAcres Flute Retreat where she had the opportunity to work with Göran and Gitte Marcusson. Olivia enjoys reading, playing with her dogs, and exploring new places!

Sammy Trentacoste is a Junior at the University of South Carolina, pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Flute Performance, under the instruction of Dr. Jennifer Parker-Harley, and a business minor. She is from Birmingham, Alabama and graduated from Oak Mountain High School. She was chosen as a finalist for the 2020 Kentucky Flute Association Collegiate Competition, received second place for the 2021 Florida Flute Association’s Collegiate Competition, and has attended many summer festivals including The Complete 21st Century Flutist at California State University and Masterworks Festival in South Carolina. Outside of music, Sammy has a passion for community service and enjoys hiking.

Clara Ungerer is a freshman pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education. During her time at Union Academy High School in North Carolina, Clara participated in local University Wind Ensembles, the Queen's University Concerto Competition, All-District Clinics, and All-County Clinics. She has performed in her school’s marching band while holding several officer positions, and her school’s pep band. Clara began teaching music her senior year of high school when she was made the music program intern in her school. This allowed her to teach Sixth Grade Band classes and give free private lessons to students playing any band instrument, not just flute or woodwinds. Aside from music, Clara enjoys reading and literature.