Woodwind, Brass Festival to feature Borealis Wind Quintet

Skidmore will host a Woodwind and Brass Festival Saturday and Sunday, March 27-28, featuring a concert performance Saturday, March 27, by the Borealis Wind Quintet. The program for the 8 p.m. concert will include music spanning three centuries, including Quintet by George Onslow, Variations sun un theme libre by Eugene Bozza, a Philip Wharton arrangement of "Lincolnshire Posy" by Percy Grainger, "Indialantic Impromptu" by Paul Moravec, "Twilight Mists" by Wharton, "Benevolent Dreams" by Sima Wolf, and "Potpourri Fantastico" by Giulio Briccialdi. 

The Borealis ensemble's residency is part of Skidmore's Filene Concert Series, and is presented by flutist Jan Vinci, senior artist-in-residence at the college, as part of the college's first Woodwind and Brass Festival. Vinci has organized the annual Skidmore Flute Festival for more than 10 years, and has now put her efforts behind launching a festival to attract a broader mix of student musicians.

The new festival is intended to interest high school and college-age student musicians, and to foster the talents of Skidmore's own student musicians studying instruments such as trumpet, horn, flute, and clarinet.

"The goal is to create a sense of community for woodwind and brass players, to encourage educational and performance interaction among students and teachers, and to reach out to young players who seek to continue their musical studies in a creative liberal arts environment," Vinci commented. "To nurture the music community, I invite teachers and students to audit these classes and coaching sessions."

The event will include workshops, coaching sessions, and a master class ending in a free admission Festival Collaborative Concert at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 28, in which both high school and college students participate in a performance with Skidmore's music faculty and the Borealis Quintet. For the detailed schedule please click here. All festival events will take place in Zankel Music Center at Skidmore.

The Borealis Wind Quintet enjoys a reputation for providing dynamic, balanced programs with extraordinary audience appeal. One of America's preeminent chamber ensembles, Borealis was the first wind quintet to receive a Grammy nomination for Best Chamber Music Performance.

The ensemble is also known for the engaging warmth of the members' personalities. Borealis musicians include Katherine Fink, flute; Tamar Beach Wells, oboe; Kathryn Taylor, clarinet; Dan Culpepper, horn; and Wayne Hileman, bassoon.

General admission for the March 27 concert is $12, $10 for seniors and Skidmore faculty/staff, and $3 for students. Tickets are available online or by phone at 1-888-71-TICKETS.