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Concerts

Tuesday, November 17, 6:00PM at Brookdale, North Austin

Sunday November 22, 2:00PM at Highland Baptist Church, Austin

Sunday December 5, 3:00PM at First Baptist Church, Round Rock STARRY Christmas Party

Tuesday, April 5, 6:00PM at Brookdale North Austin

Sunday April 10, 5:00PM at Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, Austin

About Violet Crown

The Violet Crown Flute Choir began in the fall of 2013 with five flutists, who were members of the Austin Civic Wind Ensemble. The group currently has 14 members, most of whom are also in ACWE’s flute section. In keeping with ACWE’s mission, the flute ensemble does not require auditions and welcomes players of varying skill levels who desire to be part of a unique chamber group experience and celebrate the beautiful sound of the flute—including piccolo, C flute, alto flute, and bass flute. The choir plays mostly intermediate level repertoire and focuses on the fundamentals of flute playing to improve all members’ musical aptitude. The ensemble has performed at community venues such as holiday parties for STARRY Foster Care and The Yoga Room in Round Rock and Brookdale North Austin senior living center. In spring 2015, the choir looks forward to concerts at the Texas Community Music Festival at Central Market, Austin Public Library’s Recycled Reads, and St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Round Rock.
The choir’s name refers to the atmospheric phenomenon commonly seen in Austin before sunrises and following sunsets. Just above the horizon, in a 360-degree view, one can see a pinkish-purplish glow. Backscattering of reddened light from the rising or setting Sun causes the pink color. Authors, William Cowper Brann and O. Henry, both referred to Austin as the City of the Violet Crown in their writings. For more interesting history on this unique Austin nickname, visit Voices of the Violet Crown.

Meet the Director

A native of Massachusetts, Christina Ryan began organ lessons at the age of 4 and took up flute in the 4th grade after falling in love with the instrument at a Boston Ballet performance of the Nutcracker. Throughout middle and high school, Christina played in many ensembles from marching band to jazz ensemble and placed highly in regional District, All-State, and All-Eastern groups. She attended the Boston University Tanglewood Institute for high school musicians, playing in the Flute Seminar and Young Artists Orchestra. After earning a BA in Music, she remained at Boston University to earn a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education. She taught kindergarten for 12 years in North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Texas—winning awards for inquiry-based science teaching, writing curriculum, and mentoring pre-service and novice teachers—while also continuing to study flute and play in community bands, orchestras, and flute choirs. In 2013, Christina left classroom teaching to rededicate herself to flute performance and music teaching. She currently plays flute and piccolo with the St. John Vianney Music Ministry and the Austin Civic Wind Ensemble, for which she serves as Membership Director. She teaches for Music Forever Music Together, which provides mixed-age music classes to children 0-5 and their families. She also teaches private flute lessons at Cedar Valley Middle School and in her home studio. Christina’s teachers have included Marianne Gedigian, Ruth Wright, SueEllen Hershman Tcherepnin, and David Houston. She currently studies with Sarah Jane Hargis in Austin, TX.