The Southern Cross Flutes Ethos
The name Southern Cross Flutes came about while I was apprenticing with Flute Maker Matt Shooting Star in the hinterlands of Australia. Like his name implies, his farm afforded views of large unbroken night skies for stargazing. I would instinctively draw my bearings from the Southern Cross in the night sky, finding peace and solitude.
For me, the constellation and the flute represent similar guiding entities and qualities in my life. I have chosen this name for the spirit behind the flutes that I craft, subsuming the qualities of a peaceful restful mind and clear guidance for our unique life journey.
May your Southern Cross Flutes flute serve you well in this way.
Meet the Southern Cross Flutes Flute Makers ...
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Bruce McNaught – Director & Chief Flute Maker
“With over 1500 commissioned flutes made over the last ten years, it is Bruce’s passion to make the very best instruments that look and play beautifully, and will be handed down through the generations.”
Owner of the Southern Cross Flutes, flutemaker Bruce McNaught has always had a passion for musical instruments and woodwork. The time he spent restoring Edo period Japanese furniture and teaching set design and manufacture at Toi Whakaari, NZ Drama school, as well as the decade in Wellington theatre and ongoing gigs as a sound engineer, coupled with a love for making music on various instruments, have culminated in the creation of these flutes. Previously, Bruce spent a decade in the film industry, creating miniatures for films such as The Lord of the Rings, King Kong, and The Frighteners, which honed his abilities in a wide range of creative skills. It was during this time, in the early 2000s that he made his first instruments. He also attended BA courses in Acoustics at Victoria University, which increased his understanding of how sound behaves, helping him to develop flute making knowledge.
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Linley Hawke – Office Manager
I grew up in a very creative and musical family. Early on I developed a fascination and love for woodwind instruments, especially native American flutes, and while on a trip to America I purchased my first double chamber drone flute, which felt so mesmerizing to play.
After leaving my corporate job, I joined Southern Cross Flutes as the Office Manager and Flute Advisor. Since then I have immensely enjoyed learning all about the beautiful woods and soulful sounds of all the different Native American style flutes. Here, I have found my happy place liaising with so many customers and helping with design ideas to create the perfect flutes for them.
In the Southern Cross Flutes Workshop
Behind the scenes, showing what happens in the Southern Cross Flutes Workshop.
Southern Cross Flutes in the Media
A few glimpses of the limelight.
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