Quintetto Sonare to perform Saturday

Trinity Episcopal Church in Alpena continues its popular concert series, The Village Church with a Voice, with an appearance Saturday by Quintetto Sonare. This classical music concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

Quintetto Sonare is comprised of member MaryAnn Hubbard on flute, Fay Wojtkowiak on oboe, Kim Gordon on clarinet, Jennifer Dean on bassoon and Brian Carter on French horn. All are residents of northern Michigan and graduates of their respective university music schools. All also currently teach music in either a full or part-time capacity as well as being active performers in the musical community of the area.

“This is probably the most classical concert we will have,” said Bill Kaltrider, who has been instrumental in lining up concerts for the series. “We need to hit everyone. Some don’t like lighter things, and want something they can’t hear anywhere else.”

Saturday’s concert will consist of “Suite of Old Lettish Dance” by contemporary composer Andrejs Jansons, “Swansea Town for Wind Quintet” by Gordon Jacob, “Pastorale” by Gabriel Pierne, “Quintet from a Klaviertrio” by Franz Joseph Haydn and “Folk Suite No. 4” by William Grant Still.

Quintetto Sonare was formed in 2001 to promote the medium of the woodwind quintet among audiences in northern Michigan. Its members also hope to provide artistic level performance of the quality music that has been written for woodwind quintet during all the historical periods of art. Additionally, the group hopes to educate and encourage woodwind performing students.

Saturday’s concert is just one of several that have been lined up for the coming months at Trinity Episcopal Church. A concert in April will feature a brass quintet and a renowned organist will be appearing in May. “Our concerts are drawing in good crowds, even in spite of some pretty bad weather we experienced,” said Kaltrider.

Besides audiences turning out in support of the music programs, Kaltrider also has received a positive response from other musicians who have contacted him about wanting to come to Trinity to perform.

“I think the acoustics at the church are such that people want to come and perform,” Kaltrider said. “Those who have performed here have told others about it.”

The concert series, which is free to the public, is made possible through a $2,000 outreach grant from the Episcopal Dioceses of Northern Michigan. The church also relies on free will donations taken at each concert to help defray costs.

After the Quintetto Sonare concert, members of the group will meet the audience during a reception in the social hall.