Rhonda and her five-member band Ventus performed in Minsk, Belarus, funded by a Hayes-Fulbright grant and hosted by the U.S. Embassy.  This was Rhonda’s second tour to Belarus. 

Rhonda and the group presented a masterclass at the Belarusian State Music Academy which included performances by the Academy’s flutists, as well as a spirited Q & A session.  Rhonda Larson & Ventus’ performance at the State Philharmonic Society was highlighted by a surprise premiere of her arrangement of a traditional Belarusian melody. The melody was given to Rhonda at the NFA Convention in Charlotte by Belarusian flutist Evgeniy (Gene) Isayev. 

Rhonda presented a second day-long masterclass and solo performance in Mogilev, Belarus to a packed-house of enthusiastic music academy students and their professors.

Following Belarus, Rhonda traveled to Latvia as an artist in residence providing continuing education workshops and masterclasses for the top state certified flute and woodwind instructors. She demonstrated teaching methods using flute students ranging from ages seven to eighteen. Rhonda also led a participatory group masterclass on improvisation for the flute teachers and one spirited tenor sax instructor in Jelgava.  Rhonda found the high level of flute instruction and playing throughout Latvia to be most impressive.  She worked in the cities of Riga, Jelgava, Cesis, Liepaja, and Daugavpils.

In both Belarus and Latvia, all of Rhonda’s speaking was translated to the audiences by outstanding local translators.