After 27 years of teaching music in public schools, Mona Gardner is excited to return to studio flute instruction! Mona recently retired from the School District of Holmen where she had taught band and general music. Mona also served as the flute section leader of the 132nd Army Band for over 20 years where she was selected as the Wisconsin State Headquarters "Soldier of the Year", receiving a Military Achievement Award in 1999.

Mona was a national audition finalist for "Pershing's Own" United States Army Band, a two-time Winona Symphony Concerto/Aria Competition winner, and has been featured as a soloist with many musical groups including the La Crosse Concert Band, the 132nd Army Band, the Winona Symphony Orchestra, and the Greater La Crosse Area Flute Ensemble.

She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Instrumental and General Music Education in 1994 from UW-La Crosse where she was a recipient of the Paul Stry Music Scholarship. She performed in multiple honors recitals, two full flute recitals, and was a featured soloist with the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Civic Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band and Wind Ensemble.

While currently serving as Flute Section Leader for the La Crosse Concert Band, Mona is also principal flutist with the La Crosse Wind Symphony and a former substitute flute and piccolo player for the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra. She plays saxophone in the West Salem Adult Jazz Band and subs with the Grumpy Old Men Big Band. She has also been known to occasionally sing and strum with the Cheezland Uke Band.

Mona has a passion for starting instrumentalists and guiding them to excel. She is thrilled to share her love for music and the joy of music-making with flute students once again!