Penn State Erie January 26, 2010

Imani Winds will be the next presentation by Music at Noon: The Logan Series at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.

The quintet will perform at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 26, in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building. Admission to the concert is free and open to the public.

Imani Winds has established itself as more than a wind quintet. Since 1997, the Grammy-nominated ensemble has taken a unique path, carving out a distinct presence in the classical music world with its dynamic playing, culturally poignant programming, genre-blurring collaborations and inspirational outreach programs. With two member composers and a deep commitment to commissioning new work, the group is enriching the traditional wind quintet repertoire while meaningfully bridging European, American, African and Latin American traditions.

The group is in the midst of its Legacy Commissioning Project, an ambitious five-year endeavor launching Imani Winds into its second decade of music making. The ensemble is commissioning, premiering and touring 10 new works for woodwind quintet written by established and emerging composers of various musical backgrounds. The select composers originate from different points of the globe, bringing experience not only in classical music but also in jazz, Middle Eastern, Latin and harder-to-define sounds. The Legacy Project kicked off in 2008 with world premieres by Alvin Singleton and Roberto Sierra. The following season, Jason Moran’s “Cane” premiered at the Kimmel Center for the Arts in Philadelphia, followed by performances at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall and Merkin Concert Hall.

In 2009-10, the group collaborates with Stefon Harris, premiering and touring his “Anatomy of a Box (A Sonic Painting in Wood, Metal and Wind).”

The Logan Series is celebrating its 20th season of unique musical outreach. The series receives major support from the Kay Logan Trust and additional funding from the Penn State Behrend Student Activity Fee, Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts and the Erie Arts Endowment of ArtsErie.

Also appearing in The Logan Series this spring will be eighth blackbird on Thursday, Feb. 18, and Musica Pacifica on Tuesday, March 23. For additional information about the series or Imani Winds’ performance, contact Dr. Viebranz, series director, at 814-898-6289.

Official Website: http://www.behrend.psu.edu