Sapphire Wind Quintet

Description

 Sapphire Woodwind Quintet has been entertaining audiences with eclectic programs since 2004. Sapphire has performed on concert series all over Chicagoland, including the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series, Mostly Music Chicago, the Nineteenth Century Club, and the Noontime Concerts at the University of Chicago. Sapphire has also been broadcast live on WFMT performing at Preston Bradley Hall.

The group members are flutist Kim Fleuchaus, oboist Allison Baker Wehrle, clarinetist Anna Najoom, bassoonist Mackenzie Brauns, and hornist Lisa Taylor. They are graduates of well-known music institutions, including Northwestern University, Lawrence University, Cleveland Institute of Music and the University of Michigan. They are currently active freelance musicians and have played with prestigious symphony orchestras around the country, including Chicago, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Elgin, Ars Viva, Toledo and Rockford. Program (Wilmette, IL March 2023)
Doxzomen sou Christe- Kassia Byzantine
Diligam te Domine- Raphaella Aleotti Overture from Cephale Et Procris- Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre Divertimento for Piano Clarinet, Viola and Cello- Anna Amalia von Schasen Weimar Cholera Cantata- Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel Quintette a Vent- Hedwige Chre'tien
I. Andante The Thriller- May Aufderheide Adoration- Florence Price
New Dancing Shoes- Amy Riebs Mills-
Three Nature Walks- Alexandra Molnar- Suhajda
Red Clay and Mississippi Delta- Valerie Coleman

Work Sample

Doxazomen Sou Christie-Kassia
 Diligam te Domine-Aleotti
Overture to Cephale et Procris-Jacquet de la Guerre
Divertimento-Braunschweig-Wolfenbuttel
Introduction to Cholera Music-Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel
Adoration-Price

Recorded November 21, 2022. Total run time 16'56". These works are our own arrangements of female composers for wind quintet.

The work sample submitted is a collection of our own arrangements of female composers for wind quintet. These works were written by composers who were artistically suppressed because of their gender and were not performed much or at all during the composer's lifetime. By recording this collection, we hope to bring recognition to these composers and empower future generations of women in music composition.

History

Sapphire Woodwind Quintet has been entertaining audiences with eclectic programs since 2004. Sapphire has performed on concert series all over Chicagoland, including the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series, Mostly Music Chicago, the Nineteenth Century Club, and the Noontime Concerts at the University of Chicago. Sapphire has also been broadcast live on WFMT performing at Preston Bradley Hall.

The members of Sapphire Woodwind Quintet are dedicated music educators and teach in schools as well as maintaining private studios. The quintet was invited by jazz musician Orbert Davis to join his Discover Music: Discover Life program, which is dedicated to giving all students access to the arts and brings high-quality programs to needy schools. The quintet has enjoyed "planting the seeds" for another generation of live music enthusiasts in classrooms all over Chicago.

Sapphire Woodwind Quintet is known for its original programming that includes works by Women Composers, Klezmer music, folk songs from North and South America, and pieces showcasing ethnic instruments. Sapphire is committed to expanding the quintet repertoire by working with living composers to bring new works to the public as well as arranging works by female composers from previous eras. Their goal is to surprise audiences with fresh music and share the joy of live music with their listeners.

Artistic Vision

We strive to provide performances and publications of underrepresented composers. We perform in both traditional concert halls and in public spaces within the community. We design programs for all ages to further immerse and educate the audience about overlooked and underperformed composers, as well as multi-disciplinary works to highlight the presence of music in everyday life. Our work strives to allow our audience to see that art can be produced and enjoyed anywhere by anyone.

Programs for Specific Audience(s) Expertise

We have a variety of programs for children that incorporate science and history lessons into musical form. We have performed these at a variety of schools and libraries across the Chicagoland area. These programs were inspired by current and former quintet members expertise in engineering, physics and ethnomusicology.