The Rosewood Chamber Ensemble (Barbara Hopkins, flute; Judy Handler, guitar) is in its fourth season of entertaining audiences with their programs based on the stories and people of the early United States. The Greater Boston Flute Association wrote about their Boston concert, "The pieces were played with great style and joy, resulting in a captivating performance." Their repertoire ranges from familiar Stephen Foster songs and lively dances of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to the classical music beloved by John Quincy Adams. Particularly interesting are the background stories they tell about the period, historical figures, the music, and the flutes. Barbara plays these concerts on historical flutes, including authentic Asa Hopkins flutes, made in Litchfield, CT circa 1830. Two of these flutes are made from rosewood, and that combined with the rosewood in Judy's guitars inspired the name Rosewood Chamber Ensemble. They have received grants from the Evelyn Preston Memorial Fund and have performed at venues including the Adams National Historical Park, Litchfield Historical Society, and the National Flute Association Convention.

Award winning flutist Barbara Hopkins is a cousin of the early American woodwind maker Asa Hopkins, who lived and worked in Litchfield, Connecticut. She moved to Hartford to play in the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, having no idea that Asa Hopkins existed, or that her ancestors were from Hartford. She has "come home" in a way she never dreamed of. Also the flute teacher at the University of Connecticut, she has released three CDs including Telemann Methodical Sonatas, Vol. 1, Short Concert Pieces for Flute and Piano, and Andersen Etudes, opus 15. Flute Talk Magazine recommends her Andersen CD, writing "Hopkins plays these virtuoso etudes with taste and a technical ease that many students work for years to never achieve. The Flute Network praised her Telemann recording as, "full, rich, and highly musical." The best selling Short Concert Pieces disc is in its third printing. She has her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Stony Brook University, and is using the research skills she developed in her doctoral studies to find scores of nineteenth century American music. Barbara has been a top prize winner in the National Flute Association Competition and the New York Flute Club Young Artist Competition, and was awarded a fellowship to Tanglewood Music Center, where she had the honor of playing principal flute under Leonard Bernstein. She earned her Master of Music from The Mannes College of Music, and her Bachelor of Music at The Hartt School.

Judy Handler received a Bachelor of Music degree from the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati and a Master of Music degree from The Hartt School. She also earned a Certificate from the Vila-Secai Salou Conservatory in Spain and a Diploma of Merit from the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Italy. She has given concerts and workshops at numerous venues throughout the United States including the University of Arizona, Commons Theater in Chicago, the Boston Classical Guitar Society and the Guitar Salon in New York. As co-founder of the Connecticut Classical Guitar Society, Judy helped develop one of the largest groups of its kind in the United States. Judy performs nationally with her husband, guitarist/mandolinist Mark Levesque. They have received critical acclaim for their CDs, Passion, Two Guitars Live! and Acoustic Blend. They are also featured on five CDs produced by the Connecticut Classical Guitar Society.

Programs available in 2011-2012 include:

The Musical World of John Quincy Adams

The concert embarks on a musical journey through the life and times of our sixth President, noted diplomat, theater and opera devotee, and flute player John Quincy Adams. Come hear music from his travels in Paris, London, Berlin, and the United States, including dances and popular music from his personal favorite operas.  A unique treat is a performance of Adams’ own flute music from his student days at Harvard University. The concert is performed on period flutes, including Barbara Hopkins’ original Asa Hopkins flutes, made in Litchfield, CT circa 1830.

Songs and Dances of Early America

This program tells the stories of American music from the early nineteenth century until the Civil War, and of the early American woodwind instrument maker, Asa Hopkins of Litchfield, CT. Barbara performs on flutes made circa 1830 by Asa Hopkins. Asa was a direct descendent of John Hopkins, who was one of the original settlers of Hartford and a founding member of Center Church. The flutes Barbara Hopkins plays are simple system wooden flutes made with either one key or four keys.  They were found and restored to professional playing condition between 2005 and 2009. The music performed is songs and dance music popular in this era. Some pieces will be familiar to listeners; other works have been located in museums and historical societies around New England.