The Forest Flute Choir has a new addition to swell its ranks, with the arrival of a monster flute; the huge sub contrabass. This incredible instrument plays three octaves below the normal concert flute, and takes a considerable amount of skill and puff.

The flute, affectionately known as le petit Bernard, was designed and built in Holland but later sold to All Flutes Plus in London. The cost of £6000 was raised by means of generous donations, a decade of fundraising and a grant from new Grove Trust in Monmouth. Fiona Crawley, conductor and founder of the Forest Flute Choir, told the Ross Gazette: “It’s incredibly exciting for us. Not only is it the largest and deepest flute most people will ever see but it actually takes us from being a decent regional choir to being able to perform as a flute orchestra on a national stage.”

The flute choir performs a wide variety of music, appealing to all ages and abilities. For further information visit www.forestflutechoir.co.uk