About

A familiar face on the west Michigan music scene, Dr. DeCou is dedicated to bringing music to life throughout the Great Lakes region. With her constant creativity and ability to communicate through music Anna is sure to captivate audiences and enrich students with every lesson and performance.

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As a chamber musician and soloist, Anna has traveled to many places in Europe including France where she studied and performed chamber music in the French Alps at the Zodiac Music Academy and Festival; Italy where she attended Flauti Al Castello, a flute intensive in Tuscany; and Spain where she performed open air concerts for the underprivileged. In her home state of Michigan, she has been invited to play in recitals produced by the West Michigan Winds, Detroit Chamber Winds, and the White Lake Chamber Festival. 

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Dr. DeCou currently works with school districts throughout West Michigan to help advance their flute and woodwind sections. As both a mentor and private teacher she works with students one-on-one and in group settings to help them reach their musical goals. She also teaches online with students in Massachusetts. Throughout the year 2020 when most instruction was online Anna broadened her reach with music students and is happy and comfortable while teaching online, though to teach in-person is her favorite form of education. She is currently accepting students into both her in-person and online studios. 

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Anna is especially intrigued by the concept of performer-audience communication. She is currently involved with research into the flute music of South America and classical music written by South American composers. As an advocate for new music, Anna has remained connected to sounds from past centuries and is dedicated to keeping repertoire from all eras at the forefront of her music making. She recently presented her research along with a recital as her final project at Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts and graduated with her doctorate in December 2021.

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While at Rutgers, Dr. DeCou was the student of professor Bart Feller and was a member of the Rutgers Symphonic Orchestra, Rutgers Wind Ensemble, and was an active chamber music participant. She was also involved with the Rutgers Baroque players and with HELIX! the premiere new music ensemble at Rutgers.

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She received her Masters of Music from Wichita State University as a student of Dr. Frances Shelly. In 2015 she won the school wide Concerto Aria Competition and was brought on tour to present her winning concert throughout Kansas. A native of Michigan, Anna received her Bachelor of Music degree in flute performance from Grand Valley State University where she studied with Professor Christopher Kantner. 

 

Anna comes from a family of musicians, and officially began music lessons at the age of five years old. She changed focus from strings to flute when she was nine. However, her musical education began by attending rehearsals, performances, and practice sessions with her family members long before she could hold an instrument. She now takes great joy in sharing her art with her 22 nieces and nephews and performing with her siblings as much as possible. One of Anna's greatest sources of happiness is spending time with her husband and practicing together.