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electric . . .sparkling . . . adventurous . . .enlightening "Performing in the acoustically crisp parish hall at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, the ensemble.....displayed impressive cohesion in every movement of every piece. Not a single entrance dragged; not a single passage faltered. But the group went beyond mere technical smoothness. They played with wit and style." --Bill Jones, Special to the Democratic Gazette |
The Lyrique
Quintette is the faculty woodwind chamber
ensemble in residence at the University of Arkansas. All five are members of the
music faculty at the University of Arkansas. A versatile troupe, the ensemble
has been invited to perform throughout the U.S. and abroad. The members perform
chamber music as chamber music should be heard--in an intimate, personal, and
comfortable setting--bringing the performers and audience together as partners
in the creation of an art form. The quintet's wide range of repertoire and
dazzling performances make it a favorite of audiences of all ages. Repertoire
spans many musical eras from the richness of the 16th-century Renaissance, to
the boldness of 19th-century Romanticism, to works from some of today's most
exciting international composers. Recently the quintet worked with bassoonist
Mark Popkin in editing some exciting 19th-century chamber music which was then
dedicated to each member. The ensemble is equally at home with its numerous
"pop" arrangements by composers such as Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, and Duke
Ellington.
The quintet has been on the touring roster of the
Arkansas Arts Council since
1992, is on the
Heartland Arts Fund Roster, and tours regularly, appearing at
performing arts centers, universities, schools, and other venues across the
region. Performing arts organizations which have enjoyed the music of the
Lyrique Quintette include the Chamber Music Society of Little Rock, the
Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanites Council, the Bella Vista Village
Performing Arts Series, the John Brown University Lyceum Series, the Garland
County Library, the Cleburne County Arts Council, Batesville Community Concerts,
the Hot Springs Village Symphony Guild, the Hannibal Concert Association, the
State Theatre Arts Council (MO), the Goddard Center (OK), the Oklahoma City
University Guest Artist Series, the Southern Arkansas University Guest Artist
Series, and more. The quintet has performed at several national and
international conferences, including International Double Reed Society
conferences in Frankfurt and Banff, and the Montana-Idaho Clarinet Festival in
Missoula. Recently, the quintet was invited by Kasetsart University in Thailand
to be ensemble-in-residence there in January 2003 and September 2004.