RITA HAYES
flute, vocals, hammered dulcimer

One of the co-founders of Braidstream, Rita received her BA in Music from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and her Master of Arts in Music from Western Carolina University , and studied flute with such notables as Robert Cavally, Eldred Spell, William Bennett, James Galway and Carol Wincenc. She also studied voice under Helen Laird of CCM.

Rita has been a member of the Asheville Symphony since 1984 and has been a member of the Hendersonville Symphony, Brevard Chamber Orchestra, Heritage Chamber Orchestra, Mountain Chamber Players (based in Brevard , NC) and has performed with many regional orchestras. She has performed with such notables as David Holt, Roberta Flack and Ray Charles.

Rita has run her own private teaching studio since 1976, has been on the faculty of Ben Lippen School , Asheville-Buncombe Community College , and UNC-Asheville; she has been a faculty member of Brevard College since 1987. She is a regular performer in southeastern musical events and has been featured singer and flutist with many jazz and classical ensembles and orchestras, and is well-known as a studio musician, adjudicator and clinician.

She composes and arranges, and her original music has been used in radio, television and theater. She is heard regularly on local NPR radio station, WCQS, as host of her popular classical program. She has been featured with Braidstream on several commercially released videos for the Biltmore Estate, and has also been featured on television specials at the Biltmore Estate for A&E and H&G TV.