John Floridis | Blue Mountain Music Makers | Black Tie String Quartet | Bella Chorda Guitar Ensemble
Just as Walter Hook took inspiration from many subjects and mediums, Hooked on Art transforms Bonner School into a gathering of delights for the eyes, ears, tastebuds, and the soul. For the ears, the sweet sound of music.
John Floridis is a Missoula, Montana based guitarist, singer-songwriter and composer. He has been a resident in the "Big Sky" since 1993 having moved there from the strong shouldered, down-but-never-out city of Cleveland, Ohio. He has released 5 recordings mixing bluesy, folk-rock vocal tunes with adventurous solo acoustic guitar compositions including one seasonal recording "December's Quiet Joy." He has been named Missoula's best musician by the Missoula Independent and performed in the Western region for over a decade. He has performed with artists as diverse as Shawn Colvin, Derek Trucks, Patty Griffin, Richard Thompson, Emmylou Harris, Bruce Cockburn, Kelly Joe Phelps, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Patty Larkin. John also fronts Burning River, a blues-funk-rock concept that performs in the Western region. He is also a producer of programs for Montana Public Radio and a former Registered Music Therapist. John Floridis performs with guitar, vocals and sometimes manipulated, sampled and looped sounds.
Listen to John Floridis' music
The Blue Mountain Music Makers made their debut at Hooked on Art in 2009. Since then they have enjoyed playing their mix of bluegrass, old time fiddle and folk music at several venues, including Community at the Confluence, Paw's Up Ranch, River City Roots Festival,The Peas farm, Monarch Fiddle Camp and private parties.The members of this band are Maddi Ogle on fiddle, mando, and ukelele; Riley Slayden on banjo; Grace Slayden on fiddle and special guest Adin Kloetzel.
The Black Tie String Quartet consists of two violins, a viola and a cello. The quartet's repertoire consists of classical literature, pop charts and tangos.
Listen to music by the Black Tie String Quartet
The Childbloom Bella Chorda Guitar Ensemble, under the direction of Childbloom Guitar Program Director and Instructor Nathan Zavalney, performs complex acoustic instrumental arrangements of world, jazz, and classical pieces, spanning sounds from Bach to Bossa Nova. They have been performing in Missoula since 2006 in a variety of venues including Montana Public Radio, Out to Lunch, River City Roots Festival, Big Sky Film Festival, the Missoula Art Museum, and Missoula First Night.