Winter Journeys: Sparkling Sounds from Many Lands

Immerse yourself in winter’s sparkle with Sticks and Tones! 

This holiday season, treat yourself to a concert that is at once innovative, immersive, and full of wonder. Pianist-composer Henry Flurry and percussionist Maria Flurry present an instrumental menagerie where musical celebration from six continents meets classic carols and original works. The result is a lively journey around the world’s holiday traditions, delivered with their signature humor, warmth, and creative spark.

This is no ordinary holiday concert. It unfolds like a world tour in sound. Playing piano, guitar, water, and world percussion, Henry and Maria will move you from the stillness of Gounod’s “Ave Maria” to the joyous festivity of Hanukkah, the sweet anticipation of Japanese Oshogatsu and more. 

Experience songs in their original languages, Latin grooves, and familiar tunes, while steeping yourself in poetry and storytelling woven seamlessly into the program. This is a performance designed to kindle connection, curiosity, and joy in all ages!d appreciation for the sparkle of winter traditions worldwide.

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An Instrumental Menagerie

On stage, Sticks and Tones create what has been described as an innovative instrumental menagerie. The performance brims with sound:

• Piano and guitar lay a foundation of harmony, counterpoint, and song.
• Vibraphone shimmers with crystalline warmth, its vibrato lifting audiences into moments of breathless stillness.
• Water percussion adds a magical element, transforming bowls and droplets into voices that soothe and surprise.
• Cajón, bells, castanets, tambourine, gongs, and cymbals bring global rhythms and festive sparkle.
• Jingle bells and hand percussion connect playfully with traditions close to home.

Every instrument plays a role in an immersive soundscape that invites audiences to hear the season anew.

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About Maria Flurry

Maria Flurry has soloed nationally, showcasing the marimba, vibraphone, and the expressive range of percussion. Her performances with the Detroit, Baltimore, Spokane, Phoenix, Toledo, and Annapolis Symphonies, as well as her principal timpani roles in the Flint, Flagstaff, and Arizona Philharmonics, attest to her versatility and artistry.

Audiences describe Maria’s vibraphone playing as spellbinding. She draws crystalline warmth from its bars, enveloping listeners in serenity. People tell her, “You made the water sing.” Her innovative techniques highlight the element’s versatility and strength, blending it with the piano’s rich resonance to create a sonic embrace. Whether exploring delicate textures or driving rhythms, Maria reveals the lyrical soul of percussion

About Henry Flurry

Henry Flurry is a composer, pianist, and artistic director whose musical journey began in New Orleans. Steeped in jazz, blues, classical, and sacred traditions, he brings this breadth of influence to everything he plays and writes.

At the piano, Henry creates a harmonic dance of humor, joyfulness, and lilt. His artistry tells a story—one shaped by a lifetime of experiences and a composer’s keen ear. As a composer, he has written works for orchestras, choirs, and chamber ensembles, often blending traditions in surprising ways: weaving flamenco dance rhythms into concertos or crafting lyrical lines for guitar and piano.

As Artistic Director of the Arizona Philharmonic, Henry curates seasons that bring top-tier musicians and innovative programs to Northern Arizona. On stage with Sticks and Tones, he shares his gifts as both storyteller and musician, engaging audiences with warmth and imagination.

About Sticks and Tones

Together, Maria and Henry formed Sticks and Tones to bring the joy of music directly to communities. Their performances have been described as playful, inventive, and transformative, with audiences praising the duo’s ability to blend storytelling, humor, and instrumental virtuosity.

Their artistic reach is grounded in genuine cultural curiosity. Both Maria and Henry have studied with musicians from across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas—learning languages, instruments, and traditions firsthand. These experiences enrich their concerts, giving audiences a deep sense of global connection.