Flutes at the Flicks - unforgettable tunes from the silver screen

Flutes at the Flicks is taking place at 3pm on Sunday, April 12, so expect unforgettable tunes straight from the silver screen and animated movie magic – all reimagined through a dazzling range of flutes, from the sparkling piccolo to the jaw dropping contrabass flute.

Grab your popcorn (figuratively) and enjoy an hour of sounds from the cinema with a flute-filled twist.

Tickets £10; accompanied children free, from https://www.tickettailor.com/events/highnotesmusicsociety/2015698

Peterborough Flute Choir was formed when former Peterborough School student, Charlie Kisby, returned to the city and finding no flute ensemble closer to home decided it was time to found one.

She put a poster up at the train station and reached out to existing established groups like the City of Peterborough Concert Band and City of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra.

A few weeks later, at the end of December 2018, six people turned up for the unofficial first rehearsal – “I was too impatient to wait until January and wanted to seize on the fact there were some people who were interested,” Charlie said.

Since then, the ensemble has swelled to around 18 regular flautists who come from in and around Peterborough, Spalding, March, Kettering, Oundle, and as far as Mansfield!

Their mission? To showcase the flute family, raising money for local charities through their musical activities, and to provide opportunities for people in and around Peterborough to participate in music making.

“We are really fortunate to have members that mean we can play pieces that include anything from the tiny piccolo to the mighty contrabass. To put that into context, that means we can play notes from two Cs below, to five Cs above middle C on the piano,” adds Charlie.

“It’s not just concerts, it’s important that PFC offers wider opportunities for members to gain further experience and skills”.

This year marks the fourth year the Flute Choir has welcomed international low flute specialist Carla Rees to lead Low Flutes Day, which is sold out. And each year, the group hosts a private soirée where all members are encouraged to perform an accompanied solo or small chamber piece to offer a different kind of performance opportunities.

And 2026 looks set to be another successful year where the mission is concerned. The ensemble kicked off their year with a private concert for Tallington Lodge Care Home and the first public concert is this month’s St John the Baptist Church performance fundraising for a valuable service for anyone going through cancer.

Charlie explained, “I work for Cancer Services at Peterborough Hospital and see first hand how important the Cancer Wellbeing Service is to patients and their families. I wanted to do something to help raise money for it as the Service is entirely reliant on donations. So when we were offered a performance slot at St John’s, I jumped at the chance.

“I play in a number of ensembles, but I’d say flute choirs in particular are very fond of cake, so members are suspiciously quick to sign up to the afternoon tea concerts.”

After Flutes at the Flicks, there are a few rehearsals before performing at Oundle’s Vintage festival, a fundraiser in Wadenhoe for the Marafiki Trust, and an afternoon tea concert in Wisbech St Mary’s - and that’s just the tip of the performance iceberg. Check out the events at https://www.peterboroughflutechoir.co.uk/upcoming, and follow on Facebook and Instagram (@pboroflutechoir) to keep up with the latest news and gigs.