Imani Winds in Saint Paul

Imani Winds is an American wind quintet founded in New York in 1997. Its repertoire encompasses contemporary classical chamber music, jazz, and music shaped by African and Latin American traditions. The ensemble is especially known for commissioning composers of color and for works including founding flutist Valerie Coleman’s “Umoja”; recordings such as The Classical Underground and Bruits document that repertoire. After winning the Concert Artists Guild International Competition in 2001, Imani Winds performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York. The quintet has also appeared at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., presenting music for its core lineup of flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, and bassoon.