Honors College House Concert to Feature the U of A's Lyrique Quintette

The Lyrique Quintette, the University of Arkansas' faculty woodwind chamber ensemble, will perform selections from its new release Arrivals and Departures: Music of the Americas at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4, in Gearhart Hall 130, as part of the Honors College House Concert series. A light reception will follow the performance. This concert is free and all on campus and in the community are invited to attend. Seating is limited, so please RSVP before the event and come early to reserve a seat.

The album features quintet music from across the western hemisphere, with composers hailing from Canada, the United States, Cuba, Mexico, Argentina and Uruguay. "These works are fun, delightful, and really difficult," said Ronda Mains, flutist for the quintet and chair of the Department of Music. "That's what I like about this concept — we can do new works that are intellectually stimulating and still reach people on an emotional level."

The program for the evening will include "Wind Quintet No. 3," a piece commissioned by the ensemble and composed by Grammy-nominated Uruguayan-American composer Miguel del Åguila. Other composers to be featured include Adrianna Verdié, Mathieu Lussier and Paquito D'Rivera.

"We're very pleased with how the works all come together," said Mains. "It sounds folksy, and there are different dance rhythms — it's hard to sit still."

The Lyrique Quintette consists of Nophachai Cholthitchanta on clarinet, Theresa Delaplain on oboe, Ronda Mains on flute, Timothy Thompson on French horn, and Lia Uribe on bassoon. These talented musicians perform chamber music as chamber music should be heard — in an intimate, comfortable setting — bringing the performers and audience together as partners in the creation of their art. The ensemble's repertoire spans many musical eras, from the richness of the Renaissance and the boldness of 19th-century Romanticism to works from some of today's most exciting international composers.

During its 28-year tenure, the group has performed both nationally and internationally. Most recently, they have been invited to perform "Wind Quintet No. 3" at the International Double Reed Society conference, to be held this fall in Granada, Spain.

The Honors College House Concert series was launched in 2014 and has featured a wide range of artists, from opera singer (and honors alumna) Sarah Mesko to a collaborative tribute to Nina Simone. The series is held in the Honors Student Lounge in Gearhart Hall, a beautifully appointed room that provides a comfortable setting for these intimate concerts.