About Us
Approximately 30 years ago, Trillium Flute Choir began as a small ensemble at Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina Minnesota. The mission of the group was to provide their God-given talents as a way to give back to the church, missions and community. Not all personnel are members of the church but all have a love of the flute and to perform. Trillium has become a polished, high quality performance group that has recorded three CDs and amassed a large repertoire of secular, traditional, classical, folk, Christmas and much more that any audience would enjoy! We are enthusiastic amateur flutists from a variety of backgrounds
Director
Julie Amen - Ensemble Director
Julie plays the piano, the flute, and the piccolo and has been privileged to lead the members of Trillium in thirty years of musical collaboration. Julie serves as the Gifted and Talented Coordinator at Avail Academy, where she also teaches Eighth Grade Language Arts. She enjoys history, literature, poetry, writing, sailing, and native gardening for wildlife. Julie is thankful for the loving support of her husband, her adult daughter, and her dog.
Personnel
Tara Clark
Tara is a BSF preschool teacher, artist, and all-things-creative enthusiast. She has played C flute with Trillium, Christ Presbyterian Church, Breck School, and the Clark Family Annual Christmas Band. When not holding a flute, she enjoys oil painting and has participated in local art shows. She enjoys travel with her husband, three grown children and their families, and spending time with her three grandchildren
Steve Comingdeer
Steve is an HR operations executive for Accenture, and serves as an adjunct faculty at the University of Minnesota where he teaches HR. Steve has played the flute since middle school and currently performs with Trillium, as well as the Minnetonka Symphony Orchestra and the Plymouth Concert Band. Steve is an active member of the Upper Midwest Flute Association and other local community arts non-profit boards, and lives in Plymouth with his partner and three dogs
Paula Gustafson
Paula is currently a Business Relationship Manager in the Quality Improvement department at Scott County. Educated in Psychology, she has focused on business analysis, quality improvement and change management for government, finance, travel and airlines industries for 25 years. She has played C flute, alto and bass flutes with Trillium for nearly 30 years and for her church regularly. She lives in Carver with her husband and is frequently visited by her adult children.
Andrea Olsen
Andrea completed a Music minor at Luther College and has played the flute for decades. She's a Psychology Professor at St. Catherine University with a graduate degree from the University of Minnesota. Her passions beyond work include family, friends, flute playing, baking sourdough bread, walking her dog, and yoga. She and her husband recently sent two daughters off to college, taking pride in the remarkable individuals they've become.
Delaine Suess
Delaine plays flute, piccolo, alto and bass flute. She currently performs in the Northern Symphony Orchestra, Trillium, Cabrini Flute Choir, Faith Community Theatre and Flute and Mandolin duets with her husband Tom. Delaine works full time as a Sr. Creative Designer doing 3D modeling, trade show graphics, product and application images for web and print at Banner Engineering. Delaine is currently a member of the Upper Midwest Flute Association and the National Flute Association.
Lynn Walters
Lynn has been with Trillium Flute Choir for 30 years playing flute and Bass flute. She also has been a member of the Eden Prairie Concert Band for nearly 30 years and has played in smaller groups within the band. Prior to that Lynn was a member of the St Louis Park Community Band. Lynn received a Bachelor of Music Education from UW-Eau Claire. Lynn is a Mom of 4 adult children and grandmother to 3 precious granddaughters. She enjoys spending time with her family which includes golfing with her husband.