2024 - 2025 Board Members
Norman Menzales
Founder
Founder
|
Filipino-American flutist, Norman Menzales, joined the Great Falls Symphony of Montana as Principal Flutist in September 2012 and was appointed the same position with Colorado’s Fort Collins Symphony in May 2013. He is an active orchestral, solo and chamber musician and has performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic in New York, the Erie Chamber Orchestra in Pennsylvania, and the Chattanooga Symphony in Tennessee, among others. An artist dedicated to music education, Menzales frequently performs as solo flutist of Montana’s premier woodwind quintet, the Chinook Winds and strives to bring live, classical music to rural communities throughout the Northwest. He is on faculty at the Western Nebraska Community College and International Music Festival in Loja, Ecuador. A native of Georgia, Menzales graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Music degree with Dr. Tadeu Coelho and went on to the Eastman School of Music where he received a Master of Music degree and Performer’s Certificate with Bonita Boyd. When not playing the flute, Menzales enjoys cooking, movies, reading and spending as much time as he can with his fiancé and their Cocker-Spaniel, Daphne. |
Tyler Menzales
Founder
Founder
|
Flutist,Tyler Menzales, is an active solo, orchestral, and chamber musician. Mr. Menzales is the principal flutist of the Billings Symphony Orchestra & Chorale, and Third Flute and Solo Piccolo with the Great Falls Symphony Orchestra in Great Falls, Montana. Mr. Menzales holds a Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School, where he studied with Robert Langevin. He also holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with Bonita Boyd and was awarded Eastman’s prestigious Performer’s Certificate, the school’s highest graduation honor. Other studies include lessons with Mark Sparks of the St. Louis Symphony at the Aspen Music Festival and School, and Nancy Stagnitta, at the Interlochen Arts Academy where he graduated with a high school diploma. In his spare time, Mr. Menzales is a serious cook with an obsessive expertise in dishes featuring the pumpkin. This activity is done in the company of his fiancé and their overly-clingy cocker-spaniel who is always nestled close. |
Katie Mess
President
President
Montana-based flutist, Katie Mess, is an active performer in orchestral, chamber, and solo settings. She is currently flutist with the 406 Winds woodwind quintet and auxiliary flute/piccolo with the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra. A Florida native, she has previously served as Second Flute of the Bach Festival Orchestra of Winter Park and has also been heard with Disney's EPCOT Candlelight Orchestra, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and Orlando Sings, Opera Orlando, and the Ocala Symphony, among others. An avid proponent of new music, Katie has presented premiere performances for many groups and composers and has also composed several works of her own for solo flute and arranged works for flute ensemble.
As a soloist, Katie has been featured on the Bach Festival recital series "Bach @ the Alfond", performed and presented at the National Flute Association and Florida Flute Association annual conventions, and regularly appears on faculty concerts. She holds degrees in flute performance and music theory from Rollins College (BA), the University of Colorado at Boulder (MM), the University of Central Florida (MA), and the University of Florida (DMA) where she also completed a cognate in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology with a focus on injury prevention for musicians. Her primary instructors in flute are Kristen Stoner, Robin Etter, and Nora Lee Garcia.
In addition to performance engagements, Katie previously served as adjunct instructor of flute at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fl, and Seminole State College in Sanford, Fl, and currently as Assistant Teaching Professor of Flute at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT. As an advocate for musicians' health and wellness, she serves on the Performance Health Committee of the National Flute Association and is a Corrective Exercise Specialist certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
As a soloist, Katie has been featured on the Bach Festival recital series "Bach @ the Alfond", performed and presented at the National Flute Association and Florida Flute Association annual conventions, and regularly appears on faculty concerts. She holds degrees in flute performance and music theory from Rollins College (BA), the University of Colorado at Boulder (MM), the University of Central Florida (MA), and the University of Florida (DMA) where she also completed a cognate in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology with a focus on injury prevention for musicians. Her primary instructors in flute are Kristen Stoner, Robin Etter, and Nora Lee Garcia.
In addition to performance engagements, Katie previously served as adjunct instructor of flute at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fl, and Seminole State College in Sanford, Fl, and currently as Assistant Teaching Professor of Flute at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT. As an advocate for musicians' health and wellness, she serves on the Performance Health Committee of the National Flute Association and is a Corrective Exercise Specialist certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Joanna Martin Berg
Secretary
Secretary
Joanna Martin Berg is principal flute of the Missoula Symphony and teaches at the University of Montana. She was winner of the Byron Hester Competition and a prizewinner in the Myrna Brown Competition. Joanna has performed with orchestras such as the San Antonio Symphony, Austin Symphony, Abilene Philharmonic, Great Falls Symphony, Helena Symphony and Aspen Music Festival. She is very active in contemporary music and has performed at numerous festivals and alternative performance spaces, including the Other Minds festival in San Francisco, de Young Museum, Blanton Museum of Art, and the Midwest Composers Symposium.
Joanna can be heard on recordings including Roscoe Mitchell Orchestra and Space Trio at the Fault Zone Festival, Distant Radio Transmission, Stations of My Life, and the film soundtrack to Terrence Malick’s To the Wonder. She has taught at Montana State University and throughout the country at various clinics, masterclasses and privately. She is on the board of the Montana Flute Association and regularly adjudicates throughout Montana and the Pacific Northwest. Joanna earned her Bachelor’s degree in Flute Performance from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and her Doctorate in Flute Performance from the University of Texas at Austin.
Joanna can be heard on recordings including Roscoe Mitchell Orchestra and Space Trio at the Fault Zone Festival, Distant Radio Transmission, Stations of My Life, and the film soundtrack to Terrence Malick’s To the Wonder. She has taught at Montana State University and throughout the country at various clinics, masterclasses and privately. She is on the board of the Montana Flute Association and regularly adjudicates throughout Montana and the Pacific Northwest. Joanna earned her Bachelor’s degree in Flute Performance from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and her Doctorate in Flute Performance from the University of Texas at Austin.
Cristin Stokes
Treasurer
Treasurer
Cristin Stokes is an inspiration for adults who have reengaged with their flute after a long hiatus. Playing the flute has always been one of Cristin's passions, and she was a standout soloist and ensemble musician in high school and into her studies at Montana State University. Cristin has been a leader and encourager in the Bozeman area in developing opportunities for amateur flutists to get back into playing, and she currently plays in Bozeman's popular Second String Orchestra.
She is a Bozeman native and currently a stay-at-home mom to her three young children who keep her hopping with their enthusiasm for everything! Cristin also serves on the board of Selah Learning Academy, previously served as Vice President and President of the nonprofit mom's group MAEVE Bozeman, and volunteers with Roots Family Collaborative. Before motherhood Cristin served the community as a Registered Dietitian. In her free time she enjoys reading, hiking, listening to podcasts, and spending time with her family. Cristin is currently MFA's board of directors treasurer.
She is a Bozeman native and currently a stay-at-home mom to her three young children who keep her hopping with their enthusiasm for everything! Cristin also serves on the board of Selah Learning Academy, previously served as Vice President and President of the nonprofit mom's group MAEVE Bozeman, and volunteers with Roots Family Collaborative. Before motherhood Cristin served the community as a Registered Dietitian. In her free time she enjoys reading, hiking, listening to podcasts, and spending time with her family. Cristin is currently MFA's board of directors treasurer.
Lauren Reineking
Board Member
Board Member
A passionate member of the Montana music community, flutist Lauren Reineking resides in her hometown of Billings where she serves as the adjunct flute instructor at Rocky Mountain College. As a dedicated teacher, she also maintains her own private flute studio and directs community and student flute ensembles in Billings.
She currently performs on flute and piccolo with several orchestras throughout Montana including the Billings Symphony, Missoula Symphony, and Bozeman Symphony. She also performs locally with the Yellowstone Chamber Players and the Rimrock Opera.
Reineking is a graduate of the University of Montana, where she received her Bachelor’s in Flute Performance and studied with Margaret Schuberg. Her other primary teachers include Diana Morgan of DM Flute Studio and Millie Marsh.
When not teaching or performing, she can be found exploring the mountains of her beautiful home state, finding treasures in thrift stores, or obsessing about her favorite historical homes in Billings.
She currently performs on flute and piccolo with several orchestras throughout Montana including the Billings Symphony, Missoula Symphony, and Bozeman Symphony. She also performs locally with the Yellowstone Chamber Players and the Rimrock Opera.
Reineking is a graduate of the University of Montana, where she received her Bachelor’s in Flute Performance and studied with Margaret Schuberg. Her other primary teachers include Diana Morgan of DM Flute Studio and Millie Marsh.
When not teaching or performing, she can be found exploring the mountains of her beautiful home state, finding treasures in thrift stores, or obsessing about her favorite historical homes in Billings.
Kara Nelson
Community Outreach
Community Outreach
Kara Nelson was born and raised in Bozeman, Montana. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, K-12 Broadfield, from Montana State University in 2007 and her Master of Arts in Music with an Emphasis in Flute Performance from Washington State University in 2010. She has performed in masterclasses with Rhonda Larson, Leonard Garrison, Ransom Willson, Amy Porter, and Marianne Gedigian. Her primary teachers were Dr. Renée Westlake, Karen Leech, and Ann Marie Yasinitsky.
A veteran public school educator for fifteen years, Kara has taught in rural and urban schools across Montana, teaching K-5 elementary music, middle school band, orchestra, choir, jazz band, and pops choir, as well as high school band, choir, and art. She is the 2014 Montana PTA Teacher of the Year and a two-time Helena Education Foundation Distinguished Educator.
In 2024, she opened Kara Nelson Music, a private music studio in Helena, MT specializing in differentiated instruction and content creation for private and small-group woodwind, brass, string, voice, and piano lessons. Kara is a frequent adjudicator at high school district and state music festivals across Montana. In addition to her work with MFA, Kara is a member of the Helena Music Teachers Association.
A veteran public school educator for fifteen years, Kara has taught in rural and urban schools across Montana, teaching K-5 elementary music, middle school band, orchestra, choir, jazz band, and pops choir, as well as high school band, choir, and art. She is the 2014 Montana PTA Teacher of the Year and a two-time Helena Education Foundation Distinguished Educator.
In 2024, she opened Kara Nelson Music, a private music studio in Helena, MT specializing in differentiated instruction and content creation for private and small-group woodwind, brass, string, voice, and piano lessons. Kara is a frequent adjudicator at high school district and state music festivals across Montana. In addition to her work with MFA, Kara is a member of the Helena Music Teachers Association.
Barbara Berg
Board Member
Board Member
A lifelong music educator, Barbara Berg is a popular teacher, adjudicator, and flutist in Montana. She has taught generations of flutists as a private instructor and has taught public school K-8 band, choir and elementary music classes in the Helena and Kalispell areas for 44 years.
She served as the Education Coordinator for the Helena Symphony for 9 years, writing and directing Symphony Kids and Youth Concert programs. As a bonus, she has been accompanying solo and ensemble musicians on piano for 50 years.
Barbara was principal flute in the Helena Symphony for 39 years, and is currently teaching privately and performing throughout the Helena community as well as directing the Helena Flute Choir. She is married to a musician and retired educator and has raised 3 sons.
She served as the Education Coordinator for the Helena Symphony for 9 years, writing and directing Symphony Kids and Youth Concert programs. As a bonus, she has been accompanying solo and ensemble musicians on piano for 50 years.
Barbara was principal flute in the Helena Symphony for 39 years, and is currently teaching privately and performing throughout the Helena community as well as directing the Helena Flute Choir. She is married to a musician and retired educator and has raised 3 sons.
Dr. Renée Westlake
Board Member
Board Member
A lifetime public school music educator, Dr. Renée Westlake taught band, AP music theory, world music, and general music at different time periods in her 40 year career, and culminated her work as a fine arts supervisor for Bozeman Public Schools.
Renée played in the Bozeman Symphony for three decades, is a past chair of both the BSO board of directors and Montana Ballet Company, was in Opera Montana’s inaugural pit orchestra, and continues to be an active leader in the arts nonprofit and education scene, where she is currently board president of Montana Chamber Music, president of Delta Kappa Gamma teaching honorary, treasurer for Montana Center for the Arts, and serves MSU-Bozeman as a field supervisor for student teachers.
A flute enthusiast, Renée continues to play chamber music as an amateur, maintains a full schedule as a flute and band adjudicator, taught private flute for many years, was Rhonda Larson’s first flute teacher, and studied with Karen Leech as well as performing at master classes with James Pellerite, Carol Wincenc, James Galway, Julius Baker, and Jean-Pierre Rampal.
Renée played in the Bozeman Symphony for three decades, is a past chair of both the BSO board of directors and Montana Ballet Company, was in Opera Montana’s inaugural pit orchestra, and continues to be an active leader in the arts nonprofit and education scene, where she is currently board president of Montana Chamber Music, president of Delta Kappa Gamma teaching honorary, treasurer for Montana Center for the Arts, and serves MSU-Bozeman as a field supervisor for student teachers.
A flute enthusiast, Renée continues to play chamber music as an amateur, maintains a full schedule as a flute and band adjudicator, taught private flute for many years, was Rhonda Larson’s first flute teacher, and studied with Karen Leech as well as performing at master classes with James Pellerite, Carol Wincenc, James Galway, Julius Baker, and Jean-Pierre Rampal.