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With style and grace, Calico Winds is taking wind music to the forefront of the chamber music world by artfully reinventing the conventional wind quintet. They chose the name “Calico” to reflect the many colors and textures offered by the instruments of their ensemble. The group blends top-notch playing, great music and an appealing atmosphere, their repertoire incorporating a wide variety of classical music. “They cross all the style lines and get away with it.” (Los Angeles Times).
In 1998 Calico Winds released their first CD, All in One [Bach, Nielsen, E. Carter, L. Schifrin, Zappa] to critical acclaim. Their second CD, released on Albany Records (2004), Vintage America: A Musical Meritage, features a diverse collection of original and arranged works reflecting the music and life of early Americans. In this recording “Calico Winds bring refreshing lightness to music that is too often bellowed…the quintet’s suave phrasing, lively articulation and rhythmic buoyancy are a delight throughout.” (Gramophone)
In January, 2002 Calico Winds was honored by the Association of Performing Arts Presenters with a fully-produced showcase performance at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall as part of the “Classical Connections” Young Performers Career Advancement program. They returned to Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, later that year, joining pianist Vivian Liu in a performance of Ludwig Thuille’s Romantic Sextet. They have delighted audiences across the country, touring to more than half the fifty states, including numerous cities throughout their home state of California. Said of their touring program, “The artists played in perfect balance with each other, each contributing lovely tone quality and flawless intonation. An unusually fine and beautiful program...played with rock-solid competence and interpretive flair. It was a fantastic evening of music.” (The Times Herald, Olean, NY)
Calico Winds has held residencies at La Sierra University, the Idyllwild Arts Academy and with the Claremont Youth Symphony Music Retreat in California as well as at the Birch Creek Music Festival in Door County, Wisconsin. They have been the featured ensemble for the Coleman Chamber Music Association’s Meet the Musicians concerts. As winners of the 1998 National Flute Association (NFA) Chamber Music Competition the ensemble was featured in recital at the NFA convention in Phoenix, Arizona. They have received a grant from the City of Pasadena for The Weekend Muse Inter-Generational Concerts, a series they self-produced in Los Angeles and Pasadena.
On a personal note...
Between the five members of Calico Winds, they have earned one Bachelor of Arts, one Bachelor of Science with honors and distinction in Music, three Bachelors of Music, three Masters of Music and one Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. Their combined musical travels have brought them from Europe to Israel to Mexico and all over North America. They are all active free-lance players in Los Angeles, together having a diverse array of musical experiences from ensembles such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony and Los Angeles Opera, to working with performers like Yanni, Michael Crawford and Andrea Bocelli. All of them teach. Eileen is a professional vocalist, Dave has reached Level 3 in the California Superbike School, and Theresa is a gourmet cook, Kay and Rachel run the business of Calico Winds. Eileen, Kay and Theresa are each parents of dogs. They all enjoy hiking, a good cup of coffee, and fine food and spirits, such as their signature cocktail, Calico Tea, their “special” recipe for Calico Coffee, and their Calico Wings flambé, all recipes found on calicowinds.com.
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