Contact Info:   bsummer09@gmail.com  

Bethany Gonella is a flutist, piccoloist, and baroque flutist and teacher in the Twin Cities.  She performs often as an extra/substitute musician with the Minnesota Opera Orchestra and Minnesota Orchestra and plays regularly in the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and the Chione Quintet.  She has also held positions with the La Crosse Symphony and Winona Symphony.  She holds degrees in flute performance from Northwestern University and the University of Southern California and is a doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota. 

Bethany teaches both privately and at the University of St. Thomas, and she enjoys working with students of all ages and levels.  Her teaching style is strongly influenced by the Suzuki philosophy; she creates a positive, encouraging atmosphere for students to develop as musicians and accomplished learners.  She helps students to develop not only skills of musical mastery, but also a positive "growth" mindset that emphasizes creative problem solving, strategic thinking, persistence, and attention to detail during the learning process.  Students develop both ear-training skills (learning music by ear) and music reading/rhythm skills using separate sets of repertoire and technical exercises.  She has experience working with students who have special needs.