Examples of the flute—possibly the oldest instrument, other than the human voice—can be found in cultures across the world and time. There’s a good argument that the flute is an almost universal example of our collective musicianship.
Composer, musician, and educator John Zeretzke saw this commonality and used it to start a program to connect lives on various continents. Flutes Across the World involves lots of fun and some creativity—as Circle V Ranch campers learned the first week of August, when Zeretzke showed up with milk cartons literally packed with flutes.
“The last mission we did we took over 800 flutes,” Zeretzke explained. “Four hundred of them went to orphans in the Philippines; many were victims of Typhoon Yolanda.”
Circle V Ranch Camp sits less than a mile from the Cachuma Lake Recreation Area on Highway 154, perched strategically among the rolling foothills and Santa Ynez mountainside. In an air-conditioned portable classroom on stilts, Zeretzke instructed campers on how to decorate the flutes before them.
“I wanted a program that not only met all the curriculum and state standards, but I wanted a program that touched people’s hearts,” he said. “All the kids learn visual arts, they learn music through this program, but they are also learning how to reach out with their hearts and learn to give.”
Each youngster works on two flutes, ultimately going home with one and sending a matching instrument with Zeretzke across America and overseas to be given to children elsewhere. Each crafter includes a handwritten note, rolled up and tucked into the flute.
“They may not ever meet this person—we are not trying to connect them as pen pals or anything—they are just learning to give from their heart,” he said. “And the kids who receive these flutes, they may have no toys, they have very little, so for them, to receive a flute from an American kid, it means more than just a flute.”
Circle V Ranch Camp, which was founded by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Council in 1945, has offered traditional summer camps for decades, and procured its current property in 1990. The camp makes a mission of offering all the recreational and phone-free fun camps are expected to include, whether kayaking, drum circles, archery, or arts and crafts. This year marks the camp’s fourth collaboration with Zeretzke, explained camp director Ray Lopez.
“It’s just an amazing program where kids really get to connect with other kids around the world,” Lopez said. “It gives them a chance to learn lessons in art and music, and truly instills a sense of passion for serving and connecting to others.”
Zeretzke will personally deliver the flutes to kids wherever his “music mission”—as he describes it—will take him. He’s given flutes to kids at reservations in America, Haiti, and the Philippines. Zeretzke’s mission aligns with that of Circle V Ranch Camp, and the result is dozens of vibrant, bright, and beautiful instruments.
“At the heart of camp is really, at its simplest, instilling values, helping others, being kind, and compassionate,” Lopez explained. “One of our mottos is to love God and love each other in simple ways, but how can we do that? Well, we can do that by making a flute for someone else in need.”
Jazz in the garden
Jazz in the Garden happens at the Solvang Festival Theater “under the oaks,” presenting Christine DiPego on Aug. 24 at 3 p.m. More information is available at solvangfestivaltheater.org.
Park yourself
Concerts in the Park is a free concert series featuring live music, including Livewire performing live on Aug. 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Rotary Centennial Park in Santa Maria. Free. More information is available at 925-0951, Ext. 260; dsmitherman@cityofsantamaria.org; or cityofsantamaria.org.
Music all week
The D’Vine Wine Bar and Bistro features regular live music including Jerry Stickell performing on Aug. 21, Greasy Kid Stuff performing Aug. 23, Kyle Reilly performing Aug. 26, and Emily Wryn performing Aug. 27. Shows happen at 7:30 p.m. at the bar and bistro, 107 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc. More information is available at 430-8356 or facebook.com.
Live on Blacklake
The Blacklake Golf Resort presents a Wednesday Night Summer Concert Series featuring Unfinished Business on Aug. 27. The resort is at 1490 Golf Course Lane, Nipomo. More info: 343-1214, Ext. 400,or blacklake.com.
Guitar hero
Ca’ Del GreVino Café and Wine Bar presents live music, including an open mic night on Aug. 24 from 2 to 5 p.m. Chris Beland performs Aug. 27 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the café and wine bar, 400 E. Clark Ave., Santa Maria. More info: 937-6400, dcp@grevino.com, and grevino.com.
Maverick country
The Maverick Saloon offers live entertainment each weekend, including a performance by Carmen and the Renegade Vigilantes on Aug. 22 at 8 p.m. Concert on the Deck with Teresa Russell is Aug. 23 at 3 p.m. The High Pilots Band performs Aug. 23 at 8 p.m. Suds, Songs, and Sandwiches features Owen Johnston live on Aug. 24 at 3 p.m. at the saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. More info: 686-4785 or mavericksyv@aol.com.
Contact Arts Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Aug 21-28, 2014.