Quintet Attacca is one of only two wind quintets in the 33-year history of the Fischoff Competition to have received the coveted Grand Prize. In that same year, the quintet was also invited to be a finalist for Chamber Music Society Two at Lincoln Center.
Quintet Attacca is an ensemble dedicated to bringing the unfamiliar sounds 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. In fall 2002, Quintet Attacca toured Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois. In February 2003 they traveled to Minneapolis and participated in a Music da Camera taping for Chamber Music Minnesota and gave a concert at the University of Minnesota’s School of Music. The summer of 2003 marked the quintet’s European debut, with concerts at the Emilia Romagna Festival and the Catania Musica Estate Festival in Italy. Recent seasons have seen Quintet Attacca continue to expand its reach with debut performances on Chicago’s classical radio station’s Live from WFMT, a New York debut on the Schneider Concert Series at the New School in January of 2005, and a Detroit debut on the Cranbrook Music Guild Series in December of 2005. Recent Chicagoland performances have included performances on WFMT, on the Music Institute of Chicago’s Passports series, and the Fermilab Gallery Chamber Series in Batavia, IL. Highlights of the 2007-2008 season will bring Quintet Attacca to Iowa City for the Family Concert Series, see the quintet perform on the Chicago Chamber Musicians’ March subscription concert, and culminate in “Q & A with QA” on April 28th at the Music Institute of Chicago.
Quintet Attacca delights in bringing music education to all ages and abilities. Using the differences in the individual instruments of the quintet as an advantage, the educational programs of Quintet Attacca bring understanding to the unexpected. The group has performed educational programs at libraries, elementary schools and middle schools in Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana, including the Dogwood Fine Arts Festival in Dowagiac, Michigan and throughout the Chicago Public Schools. The group has given master classes to young performers and composers at Northwestern University, Eastern Michigan University, Sherwood School of Music, Northeastern Illinois University, and the Merit School of Music.
Priding themselves on their innovative programming, Quintet Attacca enjoys presenting concerts that are both accessible and cutting-edge. A wind quintet is unusual by design and QA seeks to make the unusual noteworthy through music that challenges the performers while engaging the audience. Programs by the quintet have included works by Roberto Sierra, Eric Ewazen, Elliott Carter, Miguel del Aguila, Paquito D’Rivera, John Steinmetz, John Harbison, and Gyorgy Ligeti. In addition to these composers, three works have been written for the quintet: Collin Anderson’s Tangram, written for Northwestern University’s New Music Marathon, Dancas Basilieras by Rami Levin, and Two Episodes for Wind Quintet, written for the ensemble by Dana McCormick. Numerous new music projects have included a master class of young composers’ works and performance on the New Music Marathon at Northwestern University and an annual call for scores, culminating in a recital at Lake Forest College. To create balanced and entertaining programs, Quintet Attacca combines the challenges of today’s most difficult works with gems from the past.
