The Avenue Winds has been delighting San Francisco Bay Area audiences with its unparalleled artistry and virtuosity in performance of woodwind literature since 2002. Comprised of five professional musicians, this engaging woodwind quintet has performed in recital at numerous venues, including the Trinity Chamber Concert Series, Lakeside Presbyterian Church, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, University of San Francisco, Berkeley Chamber Performances and the Old First Concert Series.

The ensemble maintains a special interest and enthusiasm for 20th and 21st century works and actively seeks out collaborations with contemporary composers. As artists-in-residence for the 2006 & 2007 San Francisco Chamber Wind Festivals, The Avenue Winds performed recitals featuring exciting new works by composers John Bilotta, Sylvia Rickard and Bruce Bennett, among others.

The quintet also enjoys performing frequently in local schools and community outreach projects. This past Fall 2006, the Avenue Winds presented a stimulating educational program entitled “An Introduction to Romantic Music” through the Community Music Center of Mountain View at every Mountain View elementary school.

The individual members of The Avenue Winds also perform regularly with Bay Area orchestras, opera companies and theater groups such as the Marin Symphony, San Francisco Lyric Opera and Broadway By The Bay. The artists in the quintet were trained at prestigious music schools across the country including Northwestern University, North Texas University, the Peabody Conservatory, the San Francisco Conservatory, Indiana University and the University of Michigan.

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Here’s what people have been saying about The Avenue Winds…

“Any opportunity to work with the Avenue Winds is an immense pleasure. One of the most professional and talented ensembles I know, they have given some of the most outstanding and thoughtful performances of contemporary music I have heard. I have invited them to perform at two wind festivals and they gave stunning performances of new works, performances that the composers have told me were the most insightful and well-executed performances they have ever received. Melanie Keller and Sarah Rathke have performed my own work, Fire in Spring, on several occasions with such fluency that they have made the virtuosic intricacies of the score seem natural and inevitable. They are one of the most remarkable wind quintets I know.”

John Bilotta, composer

"On behalf of the student body at St. Matthew School, I want to thank you for the wonderful presentation...The selection of pieces were nicely chosen and well recognized by all the classes! The way that the format of introducing the players, the instruments and special features in the music moved so smoothly is a great model for future presentations."

Barbara Barrett,
K-8 Music Teacher, St. Matthew School

"The performance is exceptional!...You are SUCH great musicians individually and collectively...you are all incredible!...everyone was SO very impressed by the sheer musicality and wonderful sound each of you have individually and as an ensemble...your performance conveys the music so very well. Such exceptional performers! Again, thank you SO much for performing my quintet so brilliantly..."

Jason Stanford, composer

“From the depths of my heart, I thank you all for giving so much joy to all of us composers. Your dedication to the spirit of the music and attention to detail are really remarkable . I've listened to the recording, and am MOST HAPPY!... I'd enjoy working with you again.”

Sylvia Rickard, composer

“Thanks to…the quintet for yesterday’s excellent presentation and performance at our school. My students were impressed and inspired and, I think, even sounded a little better the next day!…the quintet’s musicianship and artistry were first-rate…Your choice of repertory was colorful, varied, and well paced for young students. The brief, individualized demonstrations of each instrument were equally effective, and I liked the overall format of your presentation very much. These types of learning experiences can be profoundly enriching and influential for young students, and we do all we can to provide them as often as possible. With this in mind, we hope the quintet can return in the near future.”

Howard Rappaport, Music Teacher, La Entrada School