Professional flutist and educator Isabella Grimes was born and raised in San Jose, CA. Throughout high school, she studied privately with Sandy Hughes, second flutist of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. During this time, she was a member of the Santa Clara County Honor Band, San Jose Youth Symphony’s Flute Choir and was principal flutist of the SJYS Concert Orchestra. While a member of San Jose Youth Symphony, she had the opportunity to mentor younger musicians during their summer pre-season rehearsals. This experience ignited her love for teaching. 

Grimes was the winner of the 2021 Sonoma State University Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, and performed Mozart’s Flute Concerto no. 1 in G Major (K. 313) with the university’s Symphony Orchestra in concert. She graduated from Sonoma State with a Bachelors in Music Performance in 2022 where she studied with Kathleen Lane Reynolds, principal flutist of the Santa Rosa Symphony. While at Sonoma State, Isabella was principal flutist of the Symphonic Winds Ensemble and the Symphony Orchestra, two of the university’s foremost ensembles. 

Isabella studied under the tutelage of Dr. Ray Furuta for her Masters in Music in flute performance at San Jose State University. Grimes is a lover of chamber music, particularly appreciating the intimate nature of the music making experience. As such, she was a fellow with Chamber Music Silicon Valley, San Jose’s premier chamber music organization during the 2021-2022 season. In addition to off campus chamber pursuits, she is engaged in multiple chamber groups on campus at SJSU. Isabella was an active member of the SJSU Symphony Orchestra as well as holding the position of principal flutist of SJSU’s premier Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Fred Cohen and Dr. David Vickerman, respectively. Grimes was a graduate teaching associate at SJSU and taught Woodwind Fundamentals as well as Music Appreciation, a job through which she is able to channel her passion for education.

Grimes regularly performs with groups such as Berkeley Symphony, San Francisco Philharmonic, San Francisco Academy Orchestra, Monterey Pops Orchestra. She is an active flute teacher in the San Jose and Monterey areas and maintains growing private flute studios in both cities. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and trying new coffee shops.