Cindy Pedder

I was born in Buffalo NY and moved to Detroit MI when I was 14, but have lived in Springfield VA for over 40 years.  When I was 9 years old I picked the flute because it was pretty and shiny….  and I played in band all through high school.  My 8th grade band director took our flute section to the University of Buffalo to see the flute professor demonstrate the (then) 5 members of the flute family:  piccolo, Eb soprano, C flute, alto, and bass.  It was foreshadowing my future flute life since I now own and play them all!

I went to Western Michigan University where I graduated in 3 years with majors in French and History, then went on to get my MA in French literature from Michigan State.  Right out of college I was hired by the U.S. Customs Service to work on the border in Detroit as an inspector.  After 3 years, I accepted a promotion and moved to Virginia, working in the International Affairs office at U.S. Customs Headquarters in Washington DC.

During all of this, I wasn’t playing regularly with any groups.  I did sit in with a jazz band while in grad school, and was invited to play with the University of Windsor (Canada) wind ensemble while working in Detroit.  And I played regularly in church in DC while working at Customs.

After marriage to Dennis Pedder, babies showed up, and I “retired” to be a mom.  I kept playing in church, then became the Children’s Choir director, started a church flute choir (including two of my daughters who were playing flute by then), taught preschool music, and joined the Kings Park Band.  I subbed with many local bands, an orchestra, played in the Flutonic flute choir, joined a different church flute choir, and for 19 years performed throughout the northern Virginia area with a small combo, “Just Friends,” playing music from the 20’a to the 60’s.  And at the request of the other flutes in the Kings Park Band, I started the High Winds Flute Choir, which includes most of the KPB flutes and various others who heard about us and joined.  We perform at community events, the NVMHI, and various senior organizations, and I choose our music accordingly, often arranging pieces to please our audiences.

Eventually I heard about and joined the Woodbridge Flute Choir, at least 10 years ago.  Debbie Gilbert is a wonderful director who selects music that is varied and challenging, and brings us all to a new level of performance.  She often arranges for master classes and visiting composers and special lessons on things like how to perform jazz, percussion instruments, and extended techniques.  No matter how long you have played the flute, there is always something new to learn!