Marianne Gedigian, the 40th Annual GPFS Flute Fair Guest Artist, is professor of flute at The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. She previously served as professor of flute at The University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music where she holds a Butler Endowed Professorship in Flute and is a University Distinguished Teaching Professor. Ms. Gedigian performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra for over a decade, including several seasons as acting principal flute under Seiji Ozawa. As principal flute with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and acting principal flute with the Boston Pops, Ms. Gedigian has performed on dozens of recordings with the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops Orchestras, Evening at Pops public television broadcasts as well as the nationally broadcast Fourth of July specials. She is a Haynes Flutes Artist.

Cassie Maloney graduated from Slippery Rock University with a degree in music education in 2014. She finished her training as an Alexander Technique Teacher at the Oregon Center for the Alexander Technique in 2022. She now runs Working Well Studio, teaching yoga, meditation, and Alexander Technique to help musicians and others live, play, and work well. Find her and helpful resources at Cassie Maloney  .

Michael S. Weinstein, MD, is a Board-Certified specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Weinstein has evaluated and treated Performing Artists for more than 30 years and has been a member of the NFA's Performance Health Advisory Board for several years. He is the founding medical director of Center for Performing Artists at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, and was an early board member of the Performing Arts Medical Association, PAMA – artsmed.org. Over the course of his career, Weinstein has worked intensively with patients with neurological problems and developed medical rehabilitation programs for patients with Stroke, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Brain Injury, and Parkinson’s disease. Now residing in Palm Springs, California, he travels to work in hospitals in California & Oregon. He has served on many boards, was Vice-President of the Washington State Medical Association, and has received the Physician of the Year award by the local American Heart Association for his development of stroke services in the affiliate’s 10 state region. Weinstein has been recognized in “Seattle’s Best Doctors,” “Best Doctors” in America, and “Top Doctors, Palm Springs.”

Marilyn First has had multiple hand injuries and challenges including tendonitis, extreme pain, and two surgeries for “trigger fingers.” These were caused by general overuse not by playing or over practicing the flute, yet they’ve had significant impact on her playing. Many times, she feared her flute playing days were over. However, a former patient of Michael Weinstein’s, First has used many of the techniques described in the workshop, “Your Health First.” She’s learned to manage pain and unnecessary muscular tension, practice proactively to prevent further injuries, and play at her best ever, studying with Zart Dombourian-Eby. First served on the NFA’s Performance Health Committee for several years, presenting with Weinstein and other performance health specialists at national conventions. She’s raised funds and produced concerts in the Washington State Capitol Rotunda for as many as fifty flutists, as well as producing performances and masterclasses with John Barcellona, Robert Dick, composer/violinist Maria Newman, Hal Ott, Rae Terpening, Paul Taub, and the Westwood Wind Quintet. She’s performed with the Olympia Symphony and the LaCrosse Symphony Orchestra in Wisconsin. @marillynrflutist - Instagram & Marilyn First - Facebook

Elaine Melanie Martir (she,her) is a first-generation Peruvian/Puerto Rican American teaching artist, advocate and cat-mom. Currently, Elaine is a DMA student in Flute Performance and is the Graduate Employee for the University of Oregon Flute studio, studying with Dr. Jacqueline Cordova. Elaine joyfully holds the title of conductor for the Eugene community-based flute choir "West Winds" and is the 2023-2024 flute fellow for Orchestra Next. Elaine is serving as the student representative for the PNW chapter of the College Music Society, and as the graduate student representative on the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance Committee for Equity and Inclusion. She holds degrees from West Chester University in Pennsylvania, the Boston Conservatory and Washington State University. 

Kevin Kopsco (he/they) resides with their 2 cats and partner in the Pacific Northwest. Their alma maters include Berklee College of Music, the Boston Conservatory, and Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. Kevin is a neurodivergent activist who is autistic with ADHD, and uses their music to promote equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Their music is a means of showing audiences raw, whimsical, poignant, and beautiful perspectives that make up existing within a neurodivergent operating system. Kevin is a vocalist, pianist, and avid poet who teaches composition, music theory, libretto/lyric/poetry writing, and music production to all ages and levels. To learn more about Kevin or their music, please visit Kevin Kopsco