LARSEN CUSTOM PICCOLO HEADS

My name is Bill Larsen.  I’ve been the principal flute of a small orchestra in Florida for over 40 years.  Upon finishing up my undergraduate degree, I had been promised an apprenticeship with Powell.  Unfortunately, the company changed hands that very year, and I did not pursue that part of my life’s dream.

In between then and now, I have had the pleasure of meeting and befriending many extraordinary makers and technicians in the flute making world.  They have all been very generous with their knowledge and open to sharing their craftsmanship with me.  All have inspired and encouraged me to explore my desire to be a “maker”.

I was fortunate enough to be well situated during the early months of Covid-19.  I had found, purchased and rebuilt two old South Bend lathes.  My “heavy” crown business (www.iriscustomcrowns.weebly.com) had allowed me to explore one aspect of flute making, while I gathered funds for a small milling machine that would allow me to experiment with cutting embouchure holes.  In short order, I had my own small machine shop, a crew of long distance mentors, and time to create.

As I approach retirement age, I felt that I wanted to contribute to the flute world that has given me my reason to exist and to leave a small mark on the history of instrument making.