Beth Larsen, Scott Ellington, Julie Bearden Shafer
Beth Larsen - flute earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Florida State University and her Master of Music Degree from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She is the second flutist / piccoloist with the Southwest Florida Symphony and the Palm Beach Opera Orchestra, as well as a substitute flutist with the Florida Orchestra and the Naples Philharmonic. Active as a teacher, Beth has held positions as flute instructor at the University of Central Florida and at the Daytona Beach Community College. Currently she maintains a busy private flute studio in Ft. Myers. Mrs. Larsen is a past winner of the Myrna Brown Flute Competition in Dallas, Texas. Mrs. Larsen performed the Mozart Concerto in D Major as guest soloist with the Dallas Chamber Orchestra in December 1992. Mrs, Larsen has studied flute with Geoffrey Gilbert, Charles Delaney, Kyril Magg, Peter Lloyd, Julius Baker, and Trevor Wye. Beth and her husband, Bill, also play in a flute/violin/cello chamber ensemble called Raintree Chamber Players. Their website is: TheFluteStudio.com
Scott Ellington - clarinet studied with Stanley Hasty at the Eastman School of Music, where he received his B. M. degree in 1982. He was also awarded the Performers Certificate and while at Eastman was involved in numerous tours. Ellington played principal clarinet on an Eastman wind ensemble commercial recording. Ellington’s dedication to the clarinet and bass clarinet also earned him a full scholarship to the Aspen Music Festival and the position of associate instructor at the Indiana University School of Music. Ellington has been a regular performer with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra since 1993 and performs with other orchestras throughout the state. A native Floridian, born in Miami, he enjoys boating and fishing with his wife Denise and two children, Jeffrey and Lauren, in Fort Myers.
Julie Bearden Shafer - piano holds degrees in piano and voice, including the Masters degree in Chamber Music and Accompanying from Shorter College and University of Georgia. Julie has performed and recorded with singers, instrumentalists, choirs and orchestras throughout the Southeast and Midwest. Currently, Julie performs per service with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and with various chamber ensembles. During the course of her career, Julie has divided her time teaching college level applied piano and music classes, improvising piano music for ballet classes and workshops including the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago and coach-accompanying professional vocalists whose styles range from gospel to opera. Musical Directing credits include shows for Naples Players, regional professional productions, and musical theatre camps. A native of Cartersville, Georgia, Julie maintains an active private teaching studio in Naples where many of her students are finalists and winners of vocal and piano competitions throughout Southwest Florida.