Fredonia faculty set to perform with Grammy-nominated ensemble in special Feb. 14 concert at Fredonia

When the Grammy-nominated ensemble, Imani Winds, takes the stage in Rosch Recital Hall this Valentine’s Day at the State University of New York at Fredonia, Fredonia’s faculty wind quintet will join them for a unique double quintet performance.

Fredonia Wind Quintet members Barry Crawford (flute), Sarah Hamilton (oboe), Andrew Seigel (clarinet), Marc Guy (horn) and Laura Koepke (bassoon) will join Imani Winds in a performance of “Mawu,” the third movement of the suite “Sacred Women” by Jeff Scott, who is also the French hornist with Imani Winds.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to have such a high-caliber, high-energy ensemble like the Imani Winds at Fredonia to perform for us and to work with our students,” Dr. Sarah Hamilton said, when asked about the upcoming collaboration. “We are thrilled to be able to perform with them.”

The Fredonia Wind Quintet (FWQ), an ensemble in residence at Fredonia, has concertized throughout New York state and the mid-Atlantic region, presented frequently at NYSSMA conferences, and has developed innovative programs for communities and schools in partnership with the Arts Council for Chautauqua County and the Western New York Institute for Arts in Education.

The members of the FWQ teach, coach chamber music, and perform at the Fredonia School of Music, but their careers and interests move in many directions.

Barry Crawford, flute, joined the Fredonia faculty in 2018 and continues to maintain an active performing career. He is a core member of the world-renowned contemporary music group, The Talea Ensemble.

Laura Koepke, bassoonist and Associate Director of the School of Music, enjoyed an active freelance career in New York City before joining the Fredonia faculty. She was a member of the acclaimed Quintet of the Americas, performed and toured with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and is currently principal bassoon of the Erie Philharmonic and the CityMusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra, and is a member of the Carmel Bach Festival orchestra.

Clarinetist Andrew Seigel studied as a Fulbright Scholar at the Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary. He performs in the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, the Buffalo Chamber Players, and the Silverwind Duo. He has released two recordings on the Emeritus label, and is now a published arranger.

Sarah Hamilton is principal oboe with the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, English hornist in the Erie Philharmonic, and also plays in the Bach and Beyond Festival. She is co-author of the oboe chapter of “Teaching Woodwinds,” an online method book, and author of “Oboe Tuning Duets,” both published by Mountainpeak Music.

Marc Guy, horn, performs actively in the Western New York region and came to Fredonia after four years with the Annapolis Brass Quintet. Three of his hymn arrangements are included on MSR Classic’s recent release “Abide With Me.”

Imani Winds is comprised of clarinetist Mark Dover, bassoonist Monica Ellis, flutist Brandon Patrick George, French hornist Jeff Scott and oboist Toyin Spellman-Diaz. The ensemble regularly performs in prominent international concert venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles and the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. During their visit to the Fredonia campus, they will meet and work with Fredonia music students in master class settings.

Imani Winds and FWQ perform on Friday, Feb. 14 in Rosch Recital Hall at 8 p.m. in a special concert event presented by Rockefeller Arts Center and the School of Music with support from the Carnahan Jackson Humanities Fund of the Fredonia College Foundation.

Tickets are available through the Campus Ticket Office in the Williams Center, by phone at 673-3501 and online at fredonia.edu/tickets.