Flutist Teresa Grawunder received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Flute Performance from the University of Houston, where she was a devoted student of Byron Hester. She received further private instruction from Geoffrey Gilbert, and played in masterclasses under Jean Pierre Rampal, Julius Baker, Thomas Nyefinger, and others. She began her professional career in 1976, performing with the Houston Ballet Orchestra, and becoming Principal Flute there in 1980, where she remained for four more years. She also performed with Theater Under the Stars from 1979 until 1990, and was a substitute in the Houston Symphony from 1976 until 1990.
In the late 1980’s Grawunder set out to explore more creative aspects of playing and teaching, while continuing her classical freelance work. She became a Teaching Artist for Texas Institute for Arts in Education, working alongside dancers, actors, and visual artists to foster creative approaches to learning through the arts in HISD classrooms. Her affiliations there led to collaborative performances with artists in various media, including dance and film. She developed a style of free improvisation on the flute that eventually led to the recording of a CD, Mysterium, released in 2004.
Currently, her active career of performing continues. Concert performances over the last five years include the following:
Houston Baptist University Faculty Performances: February, 2008 - Performed 2.73C, for flute and alto flute, and Prayers of Hildegard, a trio with soprano Melissa Givens and pianist Melissa Marse, by composer Ann Gebuhr, for a “Soulscapes” concert, sponsored by the new Houston Chamber Music Society, based at HBU; September, 2006 - Performed Bonhoffer, an opera by Ann Gebuhr, in Springfield, Missouri; June, 2005 - Premiered Gebuhr’s Prayers of Hildegard at TMTA convention in San Antonio; May, 2005 - Featured on Baroque Concerti Concert, performing Vivaldi’s Concerto in D (“Goldfinch”), with orchestra conducted by Dr. Robert Linder; April, 2004 - performed Gebuhr’s 2.73C, and Veris Adventus, for soprano, flute, bassoon, and piano, on concert of Gebuhr’s work at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Houston; October, 2004 - performed Veris Adventus again in Bloomington, Indiana; November, 2003 - Gave solo recital of French music with pianist Dan Kramlich;
Houston Community College Faculty Performances: April, 2008 - Performed the Godard Waltz with pianist Rodney Waters on music faculty recital.
MOSAIC: 1995-2006 - Performed with this mixed chamber ensemble of voice, string quartet, flute, oboe, piano, and harp. Featured on various concert venues. Featured annually on the Channing Concerts series at First Unitarian Church, Houston.
Ms. Grawunder is the Affiliate Artist in Flute and coaches Instrumental Chamber Music at Houston Baptist University, where she has taught for 23 years. From 2004 to 2006 she taught flute at Blinn College, in Brenham, Texas. She also recently joined the adjunct faculty as Flute Instructor at Houston Community College, Central Campus.
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