Community and Camaraderie with Fresh Flutes

The flute is a popular instrument, and competition can be intense for a place in orchestras and other ensembles.

But if you’re a high school musician (not necessarily a music major) considering Grinnell, you should know that you can find a musical home here. That doesn’t mean that there won’t be auditions or challenges — you’ll have to practice hard and rise to the occasion. But if you’re determined and willing to work, you can find your place in Grinnell’s community of musicians.

The Fresh Flutes ensemble is an excellent example. Claudia Anderson, a faculty member in the Department of Music and director of the Fresh Flutes, founded the ensemble more than 25 years ago. She recognized the need to draw the flute community together at Grinnell. Fresh Flutes started small and is now a campus staple.

Flute choirs are increasingly popular nationwide, but Fresh Flutes is unusual in several ways. “I think for the size of our school, we have quite a large group,” Anderson says. The musicians also have access to an extensive collection of instruments, including piccolos, alto flutes, and bass flutes — all pretty standard for a college ensemble.

What’s not so usual is a new acquisition recently gifted to the College — a rare contrabass flute. “It’s a crazy-looking thing,” Anderson says. “It’s enormous. You have to stand to play it, and it’s a whole octave lower than the regular bass flute, which seems big until you see it next to this thing!

“It’s a really amazing instrument,” she says.

The Fresh Flutes spring performance will feature the low flutes, including the new contrabass. “As you can imagine, it’s a pretty unusual sound that just adds depth to the sound of the group,” Anderson explains.

“Each year, I am always surprised by the results from mixing new and more experienced players,” Anderson says. “Part of the purpose for me of Fresh Flutes is to combine these different levels of players and to raise up the ones who are not as experienced.

“Every time, they surprise me,” Anderson says. “They’re inspired by each other and by the music we’re playing.”

Fresh Flutes performs a wide variety of music, from classic chamber music to modern jazz arrangements and more. “I’ve always sought out music that is a little different, that has some edge to it,” she explains.

Anderson also teaches her musicians extended skills beyond traditional flute techniques. For instance, they learn to make a variety of air sounds — from soft sounds to sharp, percussive ones. It’s almost like having a percussion section in the ensemble, Anderson explains. “The benefit of practicing these things is that they actually, in various ways, help one’s traditional tone as well.”

Anderson says, “The students love it when they get into it. They’re scared at first, like, ‘Oh, I can’t do that.’ But they can. And then the music is so cool that it’s worth learning the effects for. It’s just always fun to see that as it develops.”

Student flautist Ryleigh Hayworth ’25 says she appreciates the opportunities to learn new techniques and play new instruments. “Fresh Flutes isn’t your typical flute ensemble,” she says. “If you’re interested in learning extended techniques and playing alto, bass, or contrabass flutes, this ensemble is perfect for you.” 

But even beyond the amazing instruments, edgy music, and new techniques, Anderson says it’s the camaraderie and the musical challenge that make Fresh Flutes remarkable.

“I don’t think they would enjoy it as much if they were not challenged and if they were not expected to rise above where they have been,” Anderson says.

Hayworth agrees. “Through Fresh Flutes, I have improved as a flautist because it gave me a context to use the skills I was learning in my lessons,” she says. “It is so satisfying to hear how personal and group sound develops, culminating in a fun performance at the end of the semester.”

Hana Leonard ’25 says student flautists should give Fresh Flutes a try. “I would definitely recommend Fresh Flutes,” she says. “We're usually a small ensemble of highly supportive, hard-working kids, so there's no pressure.” 

Princess Joseph ’25 agrees, although she hesitated to join at first. “It felt like too intimate a group to be part of. And yet, that is just what I love about it now.” She adds, “We have developed a community among us and honestly, Fresh Flutes feels like another support group that I have at Grinnell.”

Fresh Flutes fits perfectly into the spirit of Grinnell, Anderson says. “It’s about looking for ways to find things in yourself that you may not have known existed or to that extent. And that is exactly what we do.”