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The Quintessential Winds are a freelancing wind quintet in the Los Angeles
area. Originally the group was formed as the University Wind Quintet at the Bob
Cole Conservatory of California State University, Long Beach.
While under scholarship, the quintet was coached by Dr. John Barcellona, flutist of the Westwood Wind Quintet. Recently, the quintet has studied with Los Angeles musicians: James Decker, Joseph Stone, and Larry Kaplan. While they have performed much of the standard quintet repertoire, they are committed to promoting and performing the music of new composers. They have premiered works by Adriana Verdie, Laura Kramer, and film/world music composer Christopher Caliendo. Currently, the Quintessential Winds are recording their first album including compositions with Latin influence. Other projects the quintet is engaged in are commissioning works by Michigan based composer Phillip Sink and working closely with James Decker and the iVasi Video Conductor. In June of 2010 they were fellows of the Chamber Music Institute at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. While in attendance they worked with members of the Chiara String Quartet and the Moran Wind Quintet. Recently, the Quintessential Winds were named winners of the 2011 Beverly Hills Audition. They were featured in many concert series including The Previews, by the Consortium of Southern California Chamber Music Presenters. The Los Angeles Times reviews The Previews as, "A much-sought-after opportunity for performers... the talent level is extremely high." Quintessential Winds is also featured on the Musician's Roster of the Los Angeles Arts Commission alongside groups such as the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Musica Angelica. In 2010 quintet was named a semi-finalist in the Plowman Chamber Music Competition in Colombia, Missouri. This competition hosted the nation's greatest upcoming chamber ensembles. Most recently, the quintet was invited to attend the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival in Fairbanks, Alaska as guest artists at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In March of 2012, the quintet performed at the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) national conference in Tempe, AZ. Attending the conference, Quintessential Winds collaborated with saxophonist Yi Chen and composer Laura Kramer premiering the work Stray for Woodwind Sextet. The members of the Quintessential Winds are also active freelance musicians in LA and Orange County areas and teach studios of aspiring young musicians. Many of the quintet's students have won competitions and participated in statewide and regional honor ensembles.
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