Flutist TARA HELEN O'CONNOR gave her Carnegie Hall concerto debut in 1986 performing Frank Martin's Ballade, and gave her solo recital debut in Weill Recital Hall in 1992. Ms. O'Connor is co-founder of New Millennium Ensemble, which won the 1995 Walter W. Naumberg Chamber Music Award. She has collaborated with the Orion String Quartet and the Bach Aria Group, and has performed at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Spoleto U.S.A., the International Musicians' Chamber Music Seminar in Cornwall, England, and Incontri in Terra di Siena in Italy. Ms. O'Connors recordings of the complete Etudes for Solo Flutes by Isang Yun was presented to the composer in honor of his 75th birthday. She has recorded for Arcadia, CRI, Koch International, Bridge, Soundspells Productions and the Composers' Guild of New Jersey. She has appeared at the June in Buffalo Festival, Aspen and Norfolk festivals, and with the composers' ensembles at Princeton and Columbia universities. Ms. O'Connor received her DMA from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where she studied with Samuel Baron, Robert Dick, Keith Underwood and Julius Levine. She became an Artist Member of CMS Two in 1996.

"When I was a little girl playing outside, I would always hear my neighbor Laura practicing the flute. I just fell in love with the sound. My parents noticed my interest and thought I should have some sort of music lessons. They started me on the piano because I was too little and young to play a wind instrument. When I got to third grade, the music director asked if I would play the viola because the band program didn't start until fourth grade. I told him I wasn't interested and I would be more than happy to wait a full year for the flute; after all, I had waited five years already. In October of the following year I got a flute from the school. It was in a really old beat-up case that was on the verge of disintegration. I was so excited, I proudly brought home the flute to my father. He glued the case and I shined my flute. That summer I started private lessons -- with Laura.

"At Hauppauge High School we had a fantastic auditorium that the Long Island Philharmonic used for their concerts. In my senior year they presented guest flute soloist Paula Robison. The director of our school orchestra got in touch with the Philharmonic and set up an all-day master class with her. I was one of two students chosen to participate in this event. Paula worked with me for a very long time. After the class, she asked where I was going to go to college. I told her that I wasn't sure and that I didn't know if I should major in the flute. She said, 'You have to!' We discussed my options and she told me about Sam Baron. I worked with him for 11 years and received my BA, MM and DMA from SUNY at Stony Brook. Paula Robison gave me the courage to do what my heart wanted all along.

"I would love to learn how to belly dance. I have tons of energy and can focus on more than one thing at a time. I love dogs, sewing, photography, sailing, reading, organizing, grouting the floors, construction-like projects and -- believe it or not -- doing laundry. My ideal location is one corner of Long Island. There's a Home Depot, Staples, Barnes and Noble with a Starbucks inside, and a fabric store across the street. What could be more perfect?"