Savannah Area Flute Association performs 'Out of This World' at First Baptist on May 7
Sure, Savannah has her own Philharmonic, noted museums, historical societies and a brand new hockey team, but did you know the Hostess City also boasts a flute association? That’s right, a performance and cultural group dedicated to all things flute.
This Sunday afternoon, the Savannah Area Flute Association presents its spring concert, “Out of This World,” at First Baptist Church, 223 Bull St. The program features music curated around themes of astronomy and astrology, including pieces from “Star Trek,” “The Planets” and more.
Savannah native, Erika Skye Andres, is on a mission to entice people into the nuance, facts and historical context of flutes and flautistry. After graduating from Florida State University with an M.A. in performance, she returned to Savannah with the notion of creating a flute choir. She got the ball rolling in early 2018 and by that fall, the association was up and piping its first Halloween-inspired concert.
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“Some people don’t even know what a flute choir is, and that it’s really an enjoyable way to learn about and experience music,” emphasized Andres. “For example, there are more types of flute instruments than most people think. There’s piccolo, alto, bass, wooden flutes, and each with its own sound and history. Through the Savannah Area Flute Association, the goal is to bring to our community new and familiar composers and pieces of music with local flute players in fun and creative ways.”
The flute choir works like this: Open to the community, it attracts flautists ranging in age and ability. Some are seasoned, local band and music teachers; others are students eager to hone their chops. A few have recently returned to playing after a lapse of years. Andres pairs more advanced players with intermediate and beginners, and together they work to learn music of varying difficulty. In concerts, between nine and fifteen players typically perform together.
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Teachable moments between performance and classroom
For Shannon Brown, the flute choir is an opportunity to return to skills she established as an All-State player in Alabama. Brown, who now lives in Beaufort, South Carolina, was raised in a musical family. She started playing flute at age 10, earning awards and accolades through high school, but in college, the multi-talented Brown chose to study languages and became a Spanish teacher. In early 2021 she started studying with Andres, rekindling her passion for the instrument.
“Working with the flute choir is a rush,” said Brown. “We’re in pairs to learn music, and I’m often placed with a new learner, so I have to be the leader. This forces me to get in there and not be lazy. For this performance I’m most excited about the Star Trek piece because it’s just really cool music, and that’s all Erika. She is great at finding interesting pieces and arrangements. But seriously, I’m looking forward to that rush you get from performing in front of people. I love that.”
Karen Lott, who teaches instrumental band at DeRenne Middle School and who has been a music educator for 22 years, responded to an email invitation from Andres to be part of the ensemble in 2018. Lott jumped at the chance and didn’t look back. She plays alto, bass and C flute, and functions as treasurer within the group.
“I see the organization’s relationship with the greater community as playing a vital part in the music culture in Savannah,” emphasized Lott. “The association serves a diverse and important role. We have jazz, R&B, pop, rock, funk, gospel, country and western, and now we have flute ensemble music.”
But it’s as music educator in which Lott finds her involvement translating directly into her life. Lott looks forward to how her experiences in the flute choir inform her approach in what and how she teaches her music students.
“There are a variety of teachable moments that crossover into my classroom from SAFA. Examples are interpretation of styles, phrasing, warm ups, alternate fingerings and different techniques. In this performance I’m most looking forward to playing the bass flute for the first time, along with the tunes “Planets” and medley of “Star Trek.”
For Andres, this Sunday’s performance represents one more step forward in building SAFA into a regionally recognized music association within her beloved hometown.
“Savannah is definitely home, and I have lived here my whole life,” said Andres. “It’s such a wonderful place, and it’s why I want to grow SAFA into an organization that is welcoming to everyone and that fosters talent in the community. Moving forward, I want to build our fall concert into a two-day event featuring guest performers and speakers. I envision this as teaching, learning and performing experience for local flute players and the greater Savannah community.”
If you go:
What: “Out of This World,” presented by Savannah Area Flute Association
When: 2:30 p.m., May 7
Where: First Baptist Church, 223 Bull St., Savannah
Cost: Free, donations kindly accepted
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah Area Flute Association performs at First Baptist on May 7
