'Imani Winds' Woodwind Quintet Joins Spring Virtual Residency at U of A

Photo provided by Imani Winds

The Imani Woods woodwind quintet, which will be joining the University of Arkansas for a virtual spring residency.

RefleXions Music Series, a project funded by the University of Arkansas Chancellor’s Grant for the Humanities and Performing Arts Initiative, is pleased to announce that woodwind quintet Imani Winds will join the university for a spring virtual residency.

The RefleXions Music Series and residency are sponsored by the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Music, KUAF 91.3 and the Women's Giving Circle.

Imani Winds brings to the U of A and the Northwest Arkansas community a unique and robust record of citizen artistry from the group’s 24 years of existence.

“The Grammy-nominated woodwind quintet has led both a revolution and the evolution of the wind quintet through their dynamic playing, adventurous programming, imaginative collaborations and outreach endeavors,” said Lisa Uribe, director of the RefleXions Music Series and professor in the music department.

The members of Imani Winds include Brandon Patrick George on flute, Toyin Spellman-Diaz on oboe, Jeff Scott on French horn, Mark Dover on clarinet and Monica Ellis on bassoon.

While in residency, the quintet will be offering masterclasses in flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon and saxophone, holding conversations about leading social justice initiatives through musical excellence, and engaging in dialogue with our community art leaders and organizations in panels about the social impact of the arts.

The members of Imani Winds will also be interviewed on the RefleXions podcast and aired on KUAF 91.3 FM, and broadcast in the first RefleXions Music Virtual Concert via the Department of Music’s YouTube channel.

“During the pandemic, Imani Winds has taken the lead on several racial equity conversations through their participation in panels, virtual convenings, interviews, recording and music projects,” Uribe said. “They come to us to share their artistry, perspectives, knowledge and experience as we all advance creative justice initiatives through music and the arts in our own community.”

All events will be delivered via Zoom and are free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing log-in details.

For a more detailed description of each event, to register, and to learn more about the RefleXions Music Series, please visit RefleXionsMusic.org.

Upcoming masterclasses with Imani Winds include:

• Brandon Patrick George, flute, March 17, from 4-5 p.m. CT
• Toyin Spellman-Diaz, oboe, March 17, from 4-5 p.m. CT
• Mark Dover, clarinet, March 31, from 4-5 p.m. CT
• Monica Elis, bassoon, April 7, from 4-5 p.m. CT
• Jeff Scott, French horn, April 7, from 4-5 p.m. CT
• Mark Dover, saxophone, April 7, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. CT

Upcoming community engagements with Imani Winds include:

• Conversation with Community Music School students, March 18, from 6-7 p.m. CT
• Social Impact through the Arts: Panel Discussion, April 8, from 6-7:30 p.m. CT
• Conversation with music students (sponsored by the U of A band program), April 13, from 6-7:30 p.m. CT
• RefleXions Podcast, TBA
• RefleXions Concert, TBA

About Imani Winds: Imani Winds regularly performs in prominent international concert venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Walt Disney Hall and the Kimmel Center. Their touring schedule has taken them throughout the Asian continent, Brazil, Australia, England, New Zealand and across Europe. Their national and international presence include performances at chamber music series in Boston, New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Philadelphia and Houston. Festival performances include Chamber Music Northwest, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, the Ravinia Festival, Chautauqua, Banff Centre and Angel Fire. The ensemble’s playlist embraces traditional chamber music repertoire, and as a 21st century group, Imani Winds is devoutly committed to expanding the wind quintet repertoire by commissioning music from new voices that reflect historical events and the times in which we currently live.

About the RefleXions Music Series: RefleXions was conceived as a celebration of music, musicians, advocates and audiences, and as a series of events that foster creative justice and diversity through opportunities to reflect, learn, grow, change and teach. The RefleXions team is a collective of U of A individuals from different backgrounds who bring unique perspectives and commitment to the highest standards of scholarship, research and aesthetic diversity. The team includes Erika Almenara of the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures; Rogelio Garcia-Contreras of the Sam M. Walton College of Business; Antoinette Grajeda and Leigh Wood of KUAF 91.3; Ronda Mains, Catalina Ortega, Eric Troiano and Lia Uribe of the Department of Music; and students Connor Gott, Olga Khokhryakova, Liz Luzcando and Bailey Ross. Learn more about the RefleXions Music Series and its upcoming events at RefleXionsMusic.org.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.