Passionate Boston-based flute/piccolo teacher, and captivating solo, chamber, and orchestral performer
My name is Grace, and I'm a professional flute and piccolo player, and music educator in Boston, MA. As a performer, I'm musically expressive, consistent and detail oriented. I care deeply about the meaning behind the music I play, prioritize the bigger picture, and am intentional with my interpretation. As a teacher, I help my students develop their creativity and fine-tune their work ethic. I provide world-class music education virtually as well as in person.
I believe music lessons can be an accessible way for students to learn how they learn, and how to improve individually. Through music, we can share our understanding of the world and the human experience with each other. I've devoted my career to sharing mine with audiences and students alike.
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Acting 3rd flute and piccolo with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra
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1st call substitute with the Vista Philharmonic Orchestra
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10 years of experience as a Private Flute Instructor
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Conservatory training with Professor Linda Toote at Boston University's College of Fine Arts
About
Biography
Grace Helmke is a prolific flute and piccolo teacher and performer based in Boston, MA. She performs regularly with the Vermont Symphony as their acting 3rd flute/piccolo player, and the Vista Philharmonic Orchestra as their first call substitute. Also an opera lover, she performs with Opera Cambridge, the New Opera Company of Boston, the Dee Opera, the Boston Summer Opera, and is on the sublist for the Boston Lyric Opera. As an avid freelancer, she's performed with the Springfield Symphony, Creare Symphonia, the Boston Civic Symphony, the Boston International Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Annex Players. In 2024, she performed in the Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, SC.
She teaches private lessons in her personal studio, is the Private Flute Instructor at Kennedy Middle School in Waltham, MA. In March of 2023 she played a sold out Carnegie Hall debut with Boston University’s School of Music, from which she graduated Cum Laude with her Bachelor’s in May, having studied with Linda Toote and Ann Bobo. Post-graduating, she continued her studies with Diana Morgan 2023-25. In January, 2021 she won first prize in the 41st annual James Pappoutsakis Memorial Flute Competition & The Boston Woodwind Society/Matthew Ruggiero International Woodwind Competition.
She performed with the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra 2019-23, with which she toured Greece and South Africa. And, with which the Boston Classical Review described her performance of Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra as having “sang beguilingly.”
In fall of 2019 she served as the soloist with both the Manchester Symphony Orchestra and Chorale and the Lincoln-Sudbury Civic Orchestra in performances of Mozart’s flute concerto in D major. She previously soloed with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra after winning third place in their young artist’s competition. In March of 2020 she was the first place recipient in her age division of the Best Bach Performance from the global, online Great Composers Competition series.
From 2015-2019 Grace played with Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, and now works as a substitute coach with the organization. She spent 3 summers at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, as a member of their Young Artists Orchestra and Young Artists Wind Ensemble. Other summer festivals include the Pender Island Flute Retreat, Flauti al Castello, EFlute Fest, the Jeffrey Khaner Flute Festival at Curtis Summerfest and Credo Flute. In 2018 she won first place in the Musical Club of Hartford High School Competition. Grace studied with former Hartford Symphony principal flute, Greig Shearer, for 8 years. In her spare time, she enjoys making latte art, figure skating, biking, and singing.
Here's a link to her resume
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