About Zephyrus
Zephyrus is a flute/percussion duo based in Omaha, NE comprised of Christine Beard and Tomm Roland, both of whom are active recitalists and champions of new music. Formed in 2010, Zephyrus has quickly gained national recognition as being a serious force for championing contemporary music for flute and percussion. In 2011 the duo was invited to perform at the highly acclaimed Festival of New American Music in Sacramento, CA where they premiered two new works written for them by American composers David Claman and Barry M. Ford. Selected as a winner in the 2011 College Music Society’s chamber ensembles competition, Zephyrus performed new works for flute/percussion at the 2012 CMS National Conference in CA. In 2012, the duo was awarded a prestigious FRI grant by the University of Nebraska at Omaha to assist them with their tour to South America where they were invited to give featured concerts at the World Flutes Festival IV in Mendoza, Argentina. Following a brief hiatius to puruse individual projects in 2014, Zephyrus returned to the stage during the Omaha Under the Radar contemporary music festival in June 2015. Currently, the duo is taking part in a commissioning consortium for a new work by Ivan Trevino for bass flute and marimba which will be completed in 2015, and Zephyrus is making plans for a 2nd tour to South America in 2016.
Described by Flute Focus as “…having shattered any notions that the piccolo might be lacking in deep, expressive powers," flutist Christine Erlander Beard enjoys an active career as an international soloist, chamber artist and teacher, with frequent engagements throughout North America, South America and Europe, including twelve of the previous thirteen conventions of the National Flute Association, three British Flute Society International Conventions, as well as flute festivals in Canada, Mexico, Peru, Costa Rica, Spain, France and Slovenia. Applauded for her interesting and diverse recital programming and “warm lyricism” (British Flute Society journal, Pan), she is the Executive Director of the International Piccolo Symposium and serves as the Regents-Foundation Professor of Flute at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. www.christiebeard.com
Percussionist Tomm Roland has performed in a variety of musical settings throughout the U.S., Europe, India, and Japan. Some of his recordings include Take Flight with the Omaha Symphony, Rave On: Live at the Drew, Billy McGuigan’s Billy as Billy, Moses Prey A Paper Moon, the soundtrack to the film Lovely, Still and ambient composer Kevin Keller’s latest release, in abstentia. Dr. Roland endorses Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks and mallets, and Mountain Rhythm percussion instruments. He serves as the Marguerite Scribante Professor of Music and Assistant Director of the School of Music at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
