Bios of Members of the Spring Cypress Flute Circle

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Sandy Czerwinski


In the fall of 2002, I wasattending a Heritage Festival in Old Town Spring when I heard the most beautiful music. I was captured completely by its haunting sound. I don't remember the name of the Native American gentleman that played that afternoon, but my husband and I sat for about 3 hours on the sidewalk just listening to him play. That Christmas, I received my first Native American flute. The flute maker was Raymond Redfeather. My Native American flute journey began. . I've been involved in music for most of my life. I began playing classical silver flute when I was a young teen. Music is something that comes from deep in your soul. The simplicity of the NAF opened up a new realm of creativity for me. It broke all those inhibitions and allowed me the freedom to express what is inside my heart .	Sandy Czerwinski
My music is inspired by family and friends and stories that have been shared with me about some of their life experiences. Sometimes it is just a thought or feeling that spurs a new song but my music always tells a story. I know that as long as I can draw a breath, I will continue to play. A few years ago, I ran across a quote that sums up how I feel.... "With my breath my flute makes sound, But it is the breath of God that gives it voice to touch the hearts of those who will listen" .

Sam Caldarera


As a teenager I played trumpet. In college I took up the classical guitar. I received my first Native American flute Flute in 1992. One of the attractions to the flute was finding that I could improvise, play what I felt, and create my own songs. I got together with my friend, Gene Fritts who plays guitar,and we made our first CD, "Spirits of the Canyon". We call our group Anhinga. The CD was a dream come true for me. A couple years later our second CD, "Turquoise Visions", came out and we are now in the process of making our third CD. Our first 2 Cd's can be found on Talking Taco Music label or you will find them on ITunes. Samples to our third CD "Morning" can be found on our website Anhinga Music.	Sam Caldarera - picture to come soon
I've been very excited about the CDs. I stopped keeping track of sales after we hit the 40,000 sold mark. Playing the Native American flute was really only a start as it lead me to other world instruments. I also play the Shakuhachi, the Didgeridoo, the transverse Bamboo Flute and the Bansuri. I am most grateful to what the Native American flute has opened up for me. The "Spring Cypress Flute Circle" has given me a chance to join with others who love the sound of the flute, to play the other instruments I love, and to make friendships that are brought together by the love of music.

Mary Nelis


I was given my first Native American flutes by my cousin Eleanor, in 2001. She gave me some of her beginner flutes, and also gave me my own new turtle flute for my birthday. I didn't "get it" at first. Eleanor was in Colorado, I was in Oklahoma- there was no one to guide me. I was a piano player as a child- very visual- reading music. I am not Native American so I had no relationship to the traditional songs or ceremonies. I didn't seem to be able to play from my heart.... Then I heard Mary Youngblood's Beneath the Raven Moon and attended her weekend concert/workshop in Norman, OK. I also get to meet Dr. Richard Payne and see his flute collection that weekend.The flutes have made sense to me ever since!	Mary Nelis- picture to come soon
I have attended many workshops and retreats that have helped my technique. I have been able to take classes with famous great players and flute makers. The NAF community is really special that way- famous recording artists are still accessible at workshops. Talk about inspiration! I have learned so much about the history and revival of the flutes from academically-inclined researchers. The members of our flute circle also spark inspiration in me. Each player truly shares their heart in their playing, and we all appreciate the songs that emerge- from beginners to experienced. We all play differently, like our lives have all been different. That is the fun of the flute circle- it is a completely mixed-up group (pun intended~!) I thank my cousin Eleanor, the great teachers I have met at workshops, and cherish the players in our flute circle for encouraging me to take up the flute and let my own music emerge!

Heather Byford


My name is Heather Stacy Byford and I am a new member to the flute circle. I was born in Houston, Texas, and have lived in an around the city my whole life. I am 33 years old and have had a lifetime of experiences for my age. I have two boys that I love very much. My flute journey began with my marriage to my late husband Chris Byford, who died in 2003. Chris loved music. He played a guitar and opened my heart to music. While I had a certain attraction to Native American voice and music, it was not his favorite. However, I found peace in the sound. I decided to buy a small ten dollar flute while me and my kids were away on a road trip from the gift shop of Natural Bridge Caverns. It was only an assembly line replica but I tried to make it sound beautiful. It was not really tuned to any particular key, so I could only get so far. After researching the flute on the net, I decided to buy one that was	Heather Byford
hand made and tuned in order to really express mylove through it. When I received my flute from Cedar Spirit Flutes, it was like a veil had been lifted. I had music in my heart but this took me away. Never having any formal training I just played...it was magic. Very soon after I received my flute I decide to nurture Chris's love for music by buying him a new guitar. My dream was that we could grow closer by playing together. With Chris's modesty about playing in front of me, we never actually got the chance because he passed away less than a month later at the age of 29. I was broken. I lost the music for what I thought would be forever. After playing a solo at his grave with no one around except the funeral director and one usher, I did not play again for at least a year. I would not play my flute, I would not even turn the radio on. About a year later I picked my flute up and began to play, putting all my sorrow and pain into the notes. After the song was over and tears had ceased, I began to heal. The music healed my heart and made me happy again. Since that moment I have been playing just to feel the release of any emotion, be it sad, happy, or crazy. Now I play it all the time. My kids love it. I enjoy it and it gives me a connection to Chris as well as my own Native American Heritage. It has become part of my life. I am getting better every day about playing where people can hear me. Like my husband about his guitar, I am shy when it comes to playing. After a Pow Wow at my college in 2004 I started to open up about public playing, I was invited to play with the drummers on the second day of the Pow Wow. The native American man that seemed to be the head of this Pow Wow performance said I had a gift, and I played beautifully and should not be so shy to play in public. I wish I could remember his name. I thanked him and have continued on this journey with my flute since. I have also put my music on a My Space web page under the name E qou'ni Wah'ya Cherokee meaning river and wolf. Self named so because I love wolves and strengthen my sound greatly when playing in the woods by a river or creek. I have received many encouraging comments about my music on My Space and I am getting braver and learning more everyday. Someday, I hope to have a CD, if only for my own benefit and sense of accomplishment.

Anne Gorman


I was born and raised in New Jersey. I attended Bucknell University for 2 years to study Psychology/philosophy. I was also trained in secretarial work at Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School in N.Y.C. In my lifetime I have had the opporunity to travel to over 60 countries. In my retirement, I stay very active. I swim at the Y about four times a week and walk 2-3 miles almost every day. I am also secretary of a book club, have a music video group of which we study the great masters like Mozart, play bridge once a week, and I'm in a once a month mah jong group. I am just starting my Native American flute journey, but throughout my life I have always been involved in music.	Anne Gorman
I enjoyed and participated in group singing-- at camp, at school, and in various chorales wherever I lived at the time. As an adult I sang in groups which performed at retirement homes. I took piano lessons for several years (mostly as an adult). As an older adult I decided to take lessons on the baroque flute. I also took up the modern open hole flute. Once a week I meet with a couple of other ladies who play recorder and baroque flute. We play Baroque and Renaissance duets and trios. As an older adult I decided to take lessons on the baroque flute. I also took up the modern open hole flute. Once a week I meet with a couple of other ladies who play recorder and baroque flute. We play Baroque and Renaissance duets and trios. When I read your recent article in the newspaper about the Native American flute Circle, I decided to see what it was all about. It sounded like a lot of fun and and something I would enjoy very much. After one meeting with this group I was hooked and knew that I had found something beautiful. So, although I'm just starting my journey on the Native American flute, I'm really looking forward to see where the journey takes me.