Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet
| Soni Ventorum |
| Longest-serving Members |
Felix Skowronek, Flute Laila Storch, Oboe William McColl, Clarinet Arthur Grossman, Bassoon David Kappy, Horn |
| Prior Membership |
James Caldwell, Oboe, member from 1962 to 1965 Christopher Leuba, horn, member from 1962 to 1963 and from 1968 through 1979 Robert Bonnevie, horn, member from 1963 to 1967 Alex Klein, oboe, member from 1992 to 1994 Rebecca Henderson, oboe, member from 1996 to 1998 Peter Kern, Flute, member from 1966 to 1968 Sidney Rosenberg, bassoon, member, 1977 – 1978 season David Sternbach, horn, member, 1967–1968 season Dan Williams, oboe, member, 1995–1996 season Tad Margelli, oboe, frequent guest |
| Website |
The Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet was an American wind quintet that was officially founded in 1962 when Pablo Casals asked its members to become the woodwind faculty of his newly founded Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. It is known worldwide for its many international tours sponsored by the United States Department of State including three tours of South America and three of Europe. Over 25 original chamber works for winds have been written for the members of Soni Ventorum including compositions by Claude Arrieu, William Bergsma, Jean Francaix, Gerald Kechley, Joseph Goodman, John Verrall, and William O. Smith. In 1972 the quintet won the silver medal at the International Instrumental Ensembles Competition in Rio de Janeiro.
The group had a long and stable history. Through its concerts, tours, and recordings, the Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet established an international reputation. For many years
Soni Ventorum was also the wind quintet-in-residence at the University of Washington School of Music.
History
The quintet was founded in 1962 by Felix Skowronek, William McColl, Arthur Grossman, James Caldwell, and Christopher Leuba. Skowronek, McColl, and Grossman had been in the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra in the 1950s and had formed the Seventh Army Wind Quintet. Members of the ensemble were on faculty at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, members of the Puerto Rico Symphony, and participants in the annual Casals Festival. During its years in Puerto Rico, the quintet went on several concert tours to the US mainland, which led to recording opportunities with the Lyrichord label.In 1968 Soni Ventorum was hired by the University of Washington School of Music as the resident Woodwind Quintet. The group was active through June 2001.