flute
oboe
clarinet
bassoon
horn
Click on a picture for full bio.
Founded in 1999, Quintet Attacca is one of Chicago's most dynamic chamber music ensembles. Grand Prize Winner and Wind Division Gold Medal Winner of the 2002 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the quintet spent 2006-2009 as the Chicago Chamber Musicians' Professional Development Program Ensemble. Quintet Attacca is also proud to be in residence at the Music Institute of Chicago, offering performances, family programming, chamber music coaching and individual lessons.
Quintet Attacca is an ensemble dedicated to bringing the unique sound of the wind quintet to all types of audiences: to this end, the quintet has played in venues across the Midwest, with extensive programming in Chicago. Quintet Attacca has reached audiences from Italy (at the 2003 Emilia Romagne Festival) to New York (at the Schneider Concerts Series at the New School) to concert halls all over Chicagoland as well as many live broadcasts on WFMT. Recent performances have included the First Monday Series at the Chicago Cultural Center and a residency with Chamber Music Society of Detroit.
Priding itself on its innovative programming, Quintet Attacca enjoys presenting concerts that are both accessible and cutting-edge. Programs have included works that reflect the Classical and Romantic eras, as well as jazz and Latin influenced works and pieces by many of today’s leading composers. Additionally, five works have been written for the quintet: David Smooke's Trompe L'oeil, Collin Anderson's Tangram, Rami Levin’s Dancas Brasilieras and Portrait, and Dana McCormick's Two Episodes for Wind Quintet. To create balanced and entertaining programs, QA combines the challenges of today's most intriguing works with gems from the past.
Quintet Attacca delights in bringing music education to all ages and abilities with its imaginative and engaging outreach programs. Through various organizations such as the International Music Foundation, Evanston-in-Schools, the Fischoff Competition, Chamber Music Society of Detroit, and the Chicago Chamber Musicians, Quintet Attacca has reached over one hundred schools and thousands of children! QA has also given master classes to young performers and composers at Northwestern University, Northeastern Illinois University, and the Merit School of Music.
Quintet Attacca needs to finish the music for a movie and they simply can't decide what to do. That's where the students come in! With musical excerpts ranging from the dramatic (Harbison's Quintet for Winds) to the spooky (Carl Schimmel's Towns of Wind and Wood) to the downright ridiculous (Entry of the Gladiators), it's sure to be an exciting musical ride. Using elements of storytelling and colorful musical examples, Quintet Attacca shows students that they really have the power to "Set the Score!" Prep packet available here.
Younger audiences will love our k-3 version of this show entitled The Story of Winds. Quintet Attacca introduces the instruments with a fun musical piece entitled The Story of the Woodwind family, followed by a little game of "choose your score!", and ending with their original musical montage, The Wind Says Goodnight, based on the delightful Children's book of the same name.
Where will Quintet Attacca go on their upcoming world tour? They don’t know - but their creative manager has given them some surprise pieces to play to help them and the students expand their musical horizons. Students will hear music from all over the world, learn about its different characteristics and a little about the countries, too! Quintet Attacca will provide clues and even some costumes to help the audience figure out "Where in the World is Quintet Attacca?" Join QA for their Surprise World Tour! Click here for prep packet.
Quintet Idol brings the instruments of the wind quintet to school-age children and brings them to life! Each instrument will perform a selection that features its most interesting qualities. The music featured includes Libertango (flute), Klezmer Music (clarinet), Tombeau de Couperin (oboe), Maslanka's Quintet no. 3 (horn), and Sorcerer's Apprentice (bassoon). The program will introduce students to the basics and the highlights of each instrument so they are ready to pick their favorite at the Quintet Idol competition! This program has been a big hit throughout the Chicago Public Schools. Teacher Prep packets are also available here.
Kids will help Quintet Attacca solve the mystery by trying to figure out which quintet member stole the clock. The program features musical “opposites” of high and low, fast and slow, and soft and loud. Music selections span from American composer Thomas Benjamin to Hindemith to Astor Piazzolla of Argentina. The quintet will present each musical term as part of a clue to the solution. Who stole the clock? Only the kids can figure it out! Teacher prep packets available here.
Join Quintet Attacca for the classic story of Peter and the Wolf! Each instrument will present the classic characters of the story with the music of Prokofiev arranged for wind quintet. Peter, the cat, the duck, the bird, Grandpa, and even the Wolf may appear in costume, too!
Quintet Attacca draws upon their vast teaching experience to help junior high and high school music students better understand what goes into making music, how to be a team player in any ensemble, and what a future in music might be like. Drawing from their current repertoire, QA intersperses musical examples with commentary and stories from experience. Band directors from Iowa to Michigan have raved about QA master classes!
