Holly Flood, Luisa Maruyama and Freya Sanders are the faces of The Mothers Band. Photo: Chris Emeott
Three White Bear Lake Area High School students are bringing beautiful harmonies to their community and beyond.
For a dynamic trio of incoming seniors at White Bear Lake Area High School (WBLAHS), a shared passion for music kick-started a journey of friendship, growth and perseverance.
Holly Flood, Luisa Maruyama and Freya Sanders bonded in middle school through their mutual interest in theater. As eighth graders, they performed together at a school award ceremony. They didn’t know it then, but this show was the start of something special.
When the girls entered high school, the school talent show brought the three together again. When they signed up, they realized they needed a name and settled on The Mothers Band. “Our moms all enjoy hearing us play,” Holly says. “They have always been our core, so we named it after our moms, and it stuck.”
After the talent show, Luisa’s mom, Ellen Maruyama, suggested The Mothers Band apply to perform at Marketfest, an annual summer event series in White Bear Lake, featuring activities, entertainment and vendors. The Mothers Band was accepted to play for the festival in 2023.
“Without our moms’ support, I would have never felt as confident to sing at Marketfest,” Freya says. “They are always front row, and they believe in us.”
While their mothers gave them the initial push, it’s the girls’ shared passion for music that keeps them singing together. Their harmonies are what truly distinguish The Mothers Band.
The trio reworks well-known songs into something uniquely their own. With Luisa’s knowledge of music theory and the group’s extensive experience singing together, their voices blend in beautiful harmony.
“I love sharing music with the world because I think it helps other people and brings them together,” Luisa says.
Since Marketfest 2023, the band has taken the stage at multiple local events, including a second show at Marketfest in 2024 and performances at the Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest, a Polar Lake Park movie night and various school events.
Preparing for these gigs has encouraged personal and professional growth. “It’s a lot of perseverance and just knowing each other and being patient because it’s sometimes a grueling process,” Holly says. “… We have really hard moments where we’re focused, but then we have moments where we take breaks and go get gelato. We still have those friendship moments where we don’t lose sight of why we’re doing this, which is really important.”
The band plans to continue performing locally. Beyond that, the future remains uncertain. For now, they are soaking it all in and are grateful to have the opportunity to sing with the people they love and share their passion with the community.
Outside of the band, each member is involved in different pursuits. Luisa is deeply immersed in music. She is making history as the first WBLAHS student to simultaneously participate in band, choir and orchestra. She is also preparing to produce her own album and work toward a music career. Holly balances music with leadership and enjoys volunteering as a theater director in the district’s middle school program. She hopes to pursue a profession in the STEM field. Freya excels in both the arts and athletics. She juggles choir and theater with basketball and softball, embracing all the possibilities to come.
“We would like to play with a lot of joy in whatever we do, wherever we do it, and put our all into the music,” Freya says. “I will look back on this time and be so grateful.”
Instagram: @mothersband
YouTube: Mothers Band
