Acclaimed Imani Winds to Perform and Present Master Class at DePauw March 15

March 11, 2005

IMANI WINDS.jpg March 11, 2005, Greencastle, Ind. - Exploring the links between European, African and American musical traditions, Imani Winds will come to the campus of DePauw University on Tuesday, March 15. The group will present a master class at 2 p.m. and a recital at 7:30 p.m., both to take place in Thompson Recital Hall of the Performing Arts Center. Both events are free and open to the public, featuring a diverse repertoire that includes works by Maurice Ravel and Astor Piazzolla as well as original compositions and arrangements by the Imani Winds' own Jeff Scott and Valerie Coleman.

Formed in 1997, Imani Winds consists of flutist Valerie Coleman, oboist Toyin Spellman, clarinetist Mariam Adam, horn player Jeff Scott and bassoonist Monica Ellis. From their inception, one of the group's primary goals has been to explore a diverse and challenging musical repertoire that showcases their own multi-cultural background. The group's name reflects this concern as Imani literally means "faith" in Swahili.

As a result of their musical perseverance, Imani Winds have quickly risen in imani winds cd.jpg stature and national prominence. Recent highlights include their New York debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall as well as collaborations with Latin Ameircan musical legends such as Paquito D'Rivera and bandoneonist Daniel Binellli. Imani Winds can also be heard on saxophonist Steve Coleman's recording The Ascension to Light as well as their CMA/WQXR award winning debut release, Umoja. "Its goal is nothing less than to change the face -- literally -- of the classical wind quintet," a Washington Post review stated. "Imani Winds represents nothing less than the future of the once-quaint notion of the wind quintet."

Much of the group's success stems from its commitment to providing audiences with an exciting and diverse musical experience. Expanding the typical wind quintet repertoire, past Imani Winds programs include works by such varied composers as Felix Mendelssohn, György Ligeti, Luciano Berio, Astor Piazzolla, Paquito D’Rivera and Tania León. In addition, Imani members Valerie Coleman and Jeff Scott both contribute compositions and arrangements to the ensemble’s expanding repertoire. As a result of this dedication to sonic exploration, the group recently won the CMA/ASCAP Award for "Adventurous Programming."

For their Greencastle recital, Imani Winds will present a typically eclectic program. In addition to Maurice Ravel's classic Le Tombeau de Couperin, the group will feature compositions by Imani members Jeff Scott (Titilayo) and Valerie Coleman (speech. and canzone). Also included in the evening recital will be Mario Lavista's Cinco Danzas Breves and Argentinean composer Astor Piazzolla's tour de force Libertango.