Every great group starts with a simple idea. For us, it was two flute players from the Kent State University Stark Concert Band who thought it would be wonderful to have a dedicated flute choir. Back in 2010, this nameless ensemble made the KSU-Stark campus its rehearsal home. We were an entirely self-sufficient passion project—providing our own music, instruments, and guidance—and simply enjoyed the thrill of playing together.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the music temporarily stopped. But by October 2020, our founding flutists realized that camaraderie, mental health, and music therapy were more important than ever. With traditional venues locked down, we took what we could get: a very cold garage in New Franklin, Ohio. To keep everyone safe, we capped the group at eight players and one conductor, mapping out social distancing with carefully spaced rubber mats to stand on. It was in this chilly garage that we officially claimed our name—the Supertonics Flute Ensemble—and broadcast our very first virtual concert on Facebook in December 2020.

As restrictions began to lift, we moved into the much warmer Trinity Church of the Nazarene in Uniontown, Ohio, and started welcoming new members. The pandemic taught us a lot about our own resilience, prompting the Supertonics to officially remain a fully independent ensemble so we could continue growing on our own terms. In the Fall of 2023, we proudly welcomed Dr. Janet Becker as our conductor and moved our rehearsals to the Barberton High School band room to accommodate our booming roster.

Today, the Supertonics Flute Ensemble boasts over 30 members! We love performing a massive variety of music, from brand-new flute choir compositions to pop and classical arrangements. Over the past three years, we've had a blast bringing our music out into the community, presenting programs at the Children’s Hospital Tree Festival, the main Akron-Summit County Public Library downtown, the Barberton and Stow Libraries, Summit Art Space, and various local churches. Whether we're standing on rubber mats in a freezing garage or performing center stage in our community, our mission remains the same: bringing people together through the joy of music.

Flutist Dr. Janet Becker is an active performer and recitalist on both modern flute and the Baroque traverso with degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, University of Akron, and Northwestern University. An active member of the National Flute Association, Dr. Becker has performed, led masterclasses and ensembles, and lectured at numerous national and regional flute conventions and festivals. She has performed with many local orchestras, including the Akron, Canton, and Youngstown Symphonies, and taught at Mount Union, Akron U, Malone, CIM, and The Cleveland Music School Settlement.

Dr. Becker started leading flute ensembles and flute choirs in the 1980s at the Cleveland Music School Settlement. While teaching at Malone she started their flute choir in 1987, eventually leading an ensemble of twelve on tours with the Woman’s Concert Choir to Washington DC and New Mexico. She has participated in flute choirs of 100+ at numerous National Flute Association Conventions and had many students participate in local flute choir festivals, and the National High School Flute Choir. Becoming the conductor for the Supertonics in 2023 has allowed her even more opportunity to explore the ever-growing repertoire, and the growing size and skill of the group continually challenges her to devise interesting programs.