The Sunflower Trio

Formed in 2002, the Sunflower Trio is dedicated to the performance of music featuring voice, violin and piano/organ. Consisting of Rebecca Schloneger, violin, Matthew Schloneger, tenor, and Kenneth Rodgers, piano and organ, the trio excels in a variety of styles, from Baroque to contemporary, folk and Broadway. Educational residencies are available.

The Sunflower Trio has several programs available:

• Classics and Pops – A mix of classical selections, including Bach, Schubert, Mozart, Mascagni, etc, and popular selections such as Danny Boy, You Raise Me Up, and Because.
• Classical Chamber Music Program – A wide variety of classical chamber music, including selections with organ when available. Includes works from Bach and Handel to Vaughan Williams and William Bolcom to new 21st century commissions for the trio
• Ho! For the Kansas Plains – A musical walk through Kansas history in a program originally created for the Kansas sesquicentennial. The program includes historical works publicizing the Kansas as a free state, songs of the different ethnic groups that settled the plains, old American hymn tunes, bluegrass arrangements and audience favorites including Don’t Fence Me In.
• Italian Serenade – An all-Italian program, featuring operatic hits llike O sole mio, Nessun dorma, Funiculi funicula, That’s Amore and more.
• O Holy Night – A full Christmas program featuring a wide variety of classical and popular Christmas favorites.

• $2000 plus mileage (at the current federal rate) and lodging. Negotiable
• $300 per educational/community activity (up to 90 minutes) when included with a concert. Negotiable.

The Sunflower Trio is happy to provide complementary activities to local presenters that help meet the needs of their community. This is often an outreach concert for residents of a local retirement home who are unable to travel to the concert venue or for a local civic organization such as a Rotary club. It can also simply be an appearance at a local event supporting a performing arts series. The trio is quite flexible and willing to tailor activities to the needs of the presenter.

The members of the Sunflower Trio are all accomplished master teachers who serve on the music faculty at Hesston College, Kansas. Rebecca Schloneger is also a member of the Suzuki Violin faculty at Bethel College Academy of Performing Arts in Newton, Kansas. The Sunflower Trio is eager to provide Master Classes and educational residencies for any interested presenters.

Possibilities include one or a combination of the following:

• Educational school concerts with Q&A sessions
• Master Class with student vocal chamber music groups
• Individual breakout Master Classes in voice, violin & piano
• Lecture/demonstrations of chamber music rehearsal techniques
• Pre-concert lecture regarding concert repertoire with a special focus on newly commissioned works