Gretchen Herdrich

Gretchen Herdrich is a flutist, composer, improviser, educator, and visual artist and is an alumnus of the Joy of Music Program’s jazz ensembles and JOMP Youth Orchestra (JYO) (2011-2013).

Ms. Herdrich received her Bachelor and Master of Music Education at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She earned a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Psychology and Art History from UMass Lowell as well. Additionally, Ms. Herdrich studied composition at The Boston Conservatory and jazz composition at Berklee College of Music. She is also an alumnus of the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, UMass Lowell New England Youth Wind Ensembles, Mary Jo Leahey Symphonic Band Camp, and the Boston Flute Academy.

While being a multi-instrumentalist, Ms. Herdrich specializes in piccolo, concert flute, alto flute, and bass flute. Her primary flute teachers were David Houston (classical/contemporary) and Amir Milstein (jazz, world, improvisation). Ms. Herdrich has performed and taught in various settings, such as wind bands, orchestras, jazz ensembles, marching bands, chamber groups, pedagogy classes, and general music courses.

Ms. Herdrich performs a wide variety of musical styles, including Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Jazz, and Third Stream and particularly enjoys studies in orchestration, music in film, world music, blending visual and performing arts, and the neuroscience of music. She has performed with and composed for various artists around New England, including Jerry Sabatini, Deb Huber, Dan Lutz, Pamela Hines, and Aldo Abreu. She has played on various occasions at WICN 90.5 FM Live Jazz New England shows. Her compositions and arrangements have also been premiered on WCRB 99.5 FM and in performances at New England Conservatory (NEC), The Boston Conservatory, and Boston University.