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Stanford Woodwind Quintet performs March 18 in Manteca
Stanford-Woodwind
The Stanford Woodwind Quintet - photo by Photo Contributed

• WHAT: Stanford Woodwind Quintet that’s part of the Manteca Kindred Arts concert series.
• WHEN: Sunday, March 18, 3 p.m.
• WHERE: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, North Street and Powers Avenue
• COST: $15 at the door for adults, $5 for those under 18
• MORE INFO: Call 823-2570 or 239-2194

The Stanford Woodwind Quintet is performing Sunday, March 18, at 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church as the final concert for Manteca Kindred Arts 25th anniversary season.

 The quintet brings together five virtuoso performers in an energetic ensemble performing a full range of repertoire covering the 18th, 19th and 20th   centuries. The group is comprised of principal musicians from the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and the Opera San Jose Orchestra, each renowned for solo work and chamber music collaboration.

The Stanford Woodwind Quintet has received critical acclaim for its imaginative programming and innovative woodwind repertoire from the classics through 20th century.  Founded in 1987, the woodwind ensemble includes duos, trios, quartets and sextets (often adding piano, bass clarinet or saxophone) in their programming, creating a greater variety of sound and repertoire. All members are on the Music Department faculty at Stanford University and with their extensive teaching experience, bring a high level of expertise to their master classes, workshops, and clinics.  The Stanford Woodwind Quintet has recorded for the Naxos and Marco Polo labels.



Musicians include:

• ALEXANDRA HAWLEY was principal clarinetist with the N. B. C. Orchestra under Arturo Toscanini, and Frances Blaisdell, the first woman wind player admitted to both the Juilliard School of Music and to the New York Philharmonic. Hawley is the founder and artistic director of the Avedis Chamber Music series in San Francisco, a member of the music department faculty at Stanford University and a founding member of the Stanford Woodwind Quintet.

• JAMES MATHESON has held the position of principal oboe with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra since 1962.  In addition he was a member of the San Francisco Symphony from 1962-1980. He performs frequently in chamber music ensembles and is a founding a member of the Stanford Woodwind Quintet.  He teaches at Stanford University.

• MARK BRANDENBURG received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Juilliard School of Music. A former member of the San Francisco Symphony and the San Jose Symphony, he is currently principal clarinet in the Opera San Jose Orchestra and the Midsummer Mozart Festival Orchestra.  He has taught at San Jose State University and at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and is currently on the faculty at the University of California, Santa Cruz and Stanford University.

• LAWRENCE RAGENT, hornist, is a member of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players.  He has also performed with the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra and the Boston Symphony.  Ragent has taught at Brown University and the University of California at Santa Cruz and is currently on the faculty of Stanford University.

• RUFUS OLIVIER has held the principal bassoon position in the San Francisco Opera Orchestra since 1980.  At the age of eighteen Olivier was selected to perform a concerto with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and later went on to play with that same orchestra.  In 1977 he won a position with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra under Neville Mariner, and the same month joined the San Francisco Symphony.  Olivier performs frequently as a soloist and as a member of the Midsummer Mozart Festival Orchestra and Sinfonia Concertante.  He teaches at Stanford University.