Laura Benning is a member of Femme Flutale flute quartet, The Musical Offering Flute Ensemble, Flutes on the Brink, and the Prince Georges’ Philharmonic, and is the director of The Academy of St. Cecilia Youth Orchestra Flute Choir. For the past four years, Laura has been selected to play in the National Flute Association’s Professional Flute Choir. She has performed with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and the Virginia Beach Symphony Orchestra. Laura attended James Madison University, graduating with a degree in accounting, is the controller for her husband’s special events company, and mom to four kids. She freelances throughout the Washington DC metro area and maintains a small teaching studio.

Joan da Silva Heit, founder of Femme Flutale, is a freelance flutist and private flute instructor. She freelances in the Baltimore/Washington area and has performed throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Joan was selected to play in the 2004 (Nashville), 2005 (San Diego) and 2006 (Pittsburgh) National Flute Association Professional Flute Choirs. Joan maintains a busy flute studio and has performed in master classes for Julius Baker, Louis Moyse, John Barcellona, Karl Kraber, and with Femme Flutale for Bart Feller. Joan earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Western Connecticut State University. She studied with Michael Mennone and Julius Baker.

Jill Thomassen is a freelance chamber musician in the Baltimore/Washington area and a private flute instructor. She received her Bachelor of Music from the Peabody Conservatory where she studied modern and baroque flute with Timothy Day. She has also participated in master classes of Trevor Wye and Christopher Krueger. Ms. Thomassen was a winner in the New York Flute Club Competition. She also enjoys playing the Celtic harp.

Nancy Mulholland currently plays piccolo and flute with the Maryland Symphony where she is in her 24th season. She also teaches privately in Montgomery County. She has played in the Wichita Symphony, the Meadowbrook Festival, the Altoona Symphony and the Jewish Community Orchestra Symphony. As a recitalist she has appeared recently at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, soloed with the Newton Mid-Kansas Orchestra performing Lowell Liebermann's Piccolo Concerto, and gave a solo recital in Tokyo, Japan. She is the Founding director of the Gaithersburg Flute Camp. Her performance degrees are from Wichita State University and Shenandoah University Conservatory.