Breaking Winds, a quartet of bassoonists from across the country, will visit Penn State for a free guest recital at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 25 at, in Esber Recital Hall on the University Park campus.
Originating at the Eastman School of Music, the quartet members now work as professional musicians and teachers in Texas, California, Missouri, and New York.
The Breaking Winds Bassoon Quartet (BWBQ) is a one-of-a-kind chamber ensemble that plays original music for bassoon quartet with comedic performance elements.
Dancing, pop culture references, skits, and accessory instruments set the joyous and sometimes surreal tone at BWBQ shows.
The BWBQ began playing together in 2008 as undergraduate classmates at the Eastman School of Music, and they have since developed a busy schedule of appearances at concert halls, schools, pubs, and community spaces throughout the United States. Their Youtube channel has garnered a million views.
Advocates of creativity and collaboration in music education, the BWBQ has performed across the country for students from preschoolers to postgrads. These musicians have most recently visited public schools in Texas, Illinois, Connecticut, and New York.
In 2014, the group presented masterclasses at Southern Methodist University, University of Southern Mississippi, the Eastman School of Music, and the Red Cedar Festival of Bands. They also served as keynote entertainers for the Oregon Music Education Association and were featured performers at the International Double Reed Society conference in New York City.
The BWBQ premiered Scott A. Switzer’s concerto Breaking Out in March 2013 with the Yale Concert Band. The group has also been featured at concerts with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, West Point Band, Northshore Concert Band, and Meridian Community Band.
The quartet’s debut album, “Breaking In,” was released in June 2013. Their repertoire features original compositions, arrangements, and transcriptions by the members of the group.
The members of Breaking Winds are Brittany Harrington, Yuki Katayama, Kara LaMoure and Lauren Yu Ziemba.
In addition, the ensemble members also will present their thoughts and suggestions on how to become a professional musician at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 26, in Esber Recital Hall on the University Park campus. The presentation is open to the public. The ensemble’s visit to campus is hosted by Penn State bassoon professor Daryl Durran.
This performance is available via livestreamed video at cwstudios.tv.
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