First Annual Arkansas Flute Festival

Described as having an “infinitely flexible sound, with many subtle colors,” Jonathan Keeble is among the leading performer/pedagogues of his generation. Known for his rich tone, effervescent personality, and nuanced musicality, he is in high demand as a performing artist and master class clinician.

Jonathan’s passion for new music led him to commission many new works for the flute. From these efforts come critically acclaimed recordings Voyage and Song of the Black Swan as flutist in the Aletheia Duo, and Turbulent Winds with the Prairie Winds. Critics have lauded the collaboration in Voyage as being “memorable,” and Keeble’s performance as “spellbinding.” In Song of the Black Swan, his playing is lauded as “exquisite” (Fanfare Magazine) and “Keeble’s depth of tone and palate of colors is magnificent throughout the album. This is a fabulous addition to a … CD collection, both for the quality of the performance and the diversity of the repertoire.” (Flutist Quarterly) In Fanfare Magazine, the Prairie Winds were lauded for “the players individually and as an ensemble being superb.” These come in addition to his solo recording, icarus, described in the American Record Guide as being “a tour de force of virtuosic flute playing.” In addition to his active solo and chamber career, Jonathan is the Principal Flute of Sinfonia da Camera, and has performed with the Chicago Symphony, and Kansas City Symphony.

Jonathan regularly tours and teaches throughout the world, including concerts and classes Mexico City, Australia, Brazil, Austria, New Zealand, Holland, Serbia, Sweden, Canada and throughout Asia. A popular invitee as a featured guest at flute festivals, recent years have seen appearances as a featured guest at Seattle Flute Society, Chicago Flute Club, Texas Flute Society, and FluteShox events.

Jonathan is a Past President of the National Flute Association, and in 2023 was the Association’s 15th recipient of the Distinguished Service Award.

Cristina Ballatori is the newly appointed Assistant Professor of Flute at the University of Arkansas where she also serves as flutist with the Lyrique Quintet. She has performed across the United States, Europe, England, and Latin America as a recitalist, soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. Recent performance highlights include guest appearances at the Festivales Internacionales de Flautistas in Lima, Peru and World Flutes Festival in Mendoza, Argentina, concerts in venues such as the Atelier Concert Series in Paris, France, and artist residencies in Spain, Costa Rica, and Mexico.  As a chamber musician, Ballatori is a member of the Semplice Duo with pianist Kevin Chance; their debut album, Night Surrendering to Dawn, featuring works by 21st Century composers, will be released on the Centaur label in 2025. Ballatori regularly appears as a guest artist and has been a featured performer, clinician, and adjudicator at many festivals, universities, and conferences including those of the National Flute Association, Music Teachers National Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Mid-South Flute Society, and Texas Flute Festival among others. Ballatori is the recipient of numerous awards and grants including the University of Texas System’s Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award. A sought-after and dedicated teacher, Dr. Ballatori previously served as Associate Professor of Flute at both the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Her students have been named winners and finalists in local, state, regional, and national competitions, including those sponsored by the National Flute Association and Texas Association of Music Schools, and have been accepted into top summer festivals and graduate programs. Her major teachers include Alexa Still, Peter Lloyd, Katherine Kemler, Judith Lapple, and Diane Smith. Ballatori is a Burkart Artist.  Visit www.cristinaballatori.com and @uarkflutes.

Ronda Mains, retired Professor of Flute at the University of Arkansas, served the Department of Music from 1987-2024 in teaching, service, and leadership roles including associate chair and chair. Dr. Mains is a nationally and internally recognized flutist, having served as a visiting fellow at Cambridge University, and is principal flutist for the North Arkansas Symphony. She is the recipient of the Arkansas Alumni Association Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching, the Fulbright College Master Teacher Award, and was a member of the University Teaching Academy. Dr. Mains has appeared as a soloist with the North Arkansas Symphony, University of Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and Wind Symphony, Oregon Winds, Boise Summer Symphony, the Treasure Valley Wind Ensemble, and the Boise State University Symphony and Wind Ensemble. She has performed solo and chamber music nationally and abroad; in 1998, she performed at the National Flute Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. An advocate of contemporary music, Dr. Mains has been actively involved in commissioning and recording new works with her chamber groups. She can be heard with Novaria on an album featuring new music for flute and guitar and with the Lyrique Quintette on an album entitled Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue.

A native of Colombia, Catalina Ortega is a Flute instructor at the University of Arkansas, the Suzuki Music School of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas Community Music School. She plays with the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra, Ozark Family Opera Company and Fayetteville Opera. In addition to teaching, Ms. Ortega has performed in some of the major auditoriums in Colombia as a soloist and touring with chamber music ensembles. She has served as Flute/ Piccolo player for the North Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and Flute player of the Medellin Philharmonic Orchestra (Colombia) for several years. She has appeared as a soloist with the University of Arkansas Campus Band. The University of Arkansas Provost’s office and the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards recognized Ms. Ortega during the 2017 Annual State and National Awards as an Outstanding Mentor. She holds a Master Degree in Music Performance and a Certificate in Advanced Instrumental Performance in Flute from the University of Arkansas, as well as, a B.A in Flute Music Performance from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia. She is also a member of the Society of Pi Kappa Lambda by the Epsilon Sigma Chapter.