Local News
Flute choir inspires
Related Photos
-
Bethany Lutheran College’s Flute Choir plays during a recent rehearsal. The eight-member choir is believed to be the first of its kind at the school. Pat Christman
-
Lila Siu (foreground), Rosanna Barker (center) and Elyce Jaeger play during a Bethany Lutheran College Flute Choir rehearsal. Pat Christman
-
From left, Rachel Heck, Sarah Riese and Carrie Gaul play during a recent flute choir rehearsal at Bethany Lutheran College. Pat Christman
-
Bethany’s Flute Choir has been gathering weekly and playing concerts for anyone that will have them. Pat Christman
Discussion
Add a comment on this storyTools
MANKATO — Unless its lowly cousin the piccolo is around, the flute is sort of the runt of the band. Oh sure, its sound is beautiful enough, but in the majesty of the full band — with the percussion crashing, trumpets wailing and tubas ... tuba-ing — sometimes the little flute gets lost.
But not in this band.
Here, everyone brandishes a flute. And together, they make mighty beautiful music.
Meet the Bethany Lutheran College Flute Choir, eight women who get together weekly to practice and play concerts for anyone who will have them.
They’ve played at nursing homes, at daily chapel service and other occasions. And last semester, they made it into the Honors Recital, a prestigious fete for an upstart choir.
“Bethany has never had a flute choir,” says leader Rachel Heck.
“That we know of,” another member chimes in.
Heck started the group last year.
Along with Heck the group consists of Sarah Riese, Carrie Gaul, Ashley Schwichtenberg, Rosanna Barker, Lorna Scott, Lila Siu and Anita Weimer.
Some are in the regular full band, but not all. One member is actually a French horn player, but because she can also play the flute, she joined.
It began last year with five flautists. Over the summer, Heck went on a quest to find more music and more challenging music for the band to play. She found out Bethany actually had a nice stash of flute choir music.
And so the choir grew.
“The worst part is keeping the flutes in tune,” Heck says. Before they play, she must go around and individually check each members flute. If it’s off, the flute must be adjusted so it sounds just right.
But when they do, the sound is divine. A group of flutes tends to have a joyous quality, and when on one recent day when the full choir played “The Entertainer,” it was clear what attracts these young women to this endeavor.
Anita Weimer, the French hornist, said playing with the flute choir is unique.
“We don’t have a director who stands up front,” she said, and that makes it a little more difficult.
The members said they’d be back next year for the choir. They also pointed out that, while there are no men in the flute choir, any who wish to join are welcome to come check it out.
And they’re open to any gigs that come along.
“Any place they schedule us,” Heck said, “we just go with it.”
- Local News
-
-
Repeated snow days add up to scheduling headache
The problems go beyond classes to community recreation and education.
-
Nicollet County to raze Ruttles
County purchases former restaurant
-
Cabbie say he was robbed at gunpoint
Robber got into cab as if he were a customer
-
Mankato snow emergency
MANKATO — A snow emergency goes into effect noon today (Feb. 9).
-
Winter weather watch, road conditions
MnDOT's up to the minute Road conditions map.
See the National Weather Service continually updated Weather forecast
- School closing announcements
-
Life Remembered: Claire Faust a builder of connections
Claire Faust was also a dedicated Kiwanian.
-
Fourth Medallion Hunt clue
ST. PETER — Winterfest’s Winter Medallion Hunt began Saturday.
The fourth clue is:
-
Mankato utility reform approved
The Mankato City Council approved changed Monday on how water utility bills are paid.
-
Weird News: Economy is going to pot
- More Local News Headlines
-
