Adelante Winds, a “dynamic” multicultural chamber ensemble based in Central Texas focuses on educating and exposing audiences to a diverse range of composers and styles. After attending the Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival in 2012, founding members Sabrina Stovall and Ruth Aguirre were inspired to challenge their perspective on chamber music for wind players.
Adelante, which means forward, is the ensemble’s mantra in exploring new sounds and imaginative ideas for the woodwind quintet. The ensemble aspires to challenge itself and its audience to approach music in innovative ways.
An expanded and exciting repertoire has allowed the quintet numerous performance opportunities throughout Texas including colleges and universities such as San Antonio College, Northwest Vista College, Texas State University, and Texas A&M University – Kingsville. Their recitals often include compelling collaborations with groups such as the Olmos Basin Brass quintet and Grammy Award-winning percussionist Nina Rodriguez. The Texas Music Educators Association selected the group to present a showcase of diverse, new music at its annual conferences in 2015 and 2017. San Antonio’s The Heart of Texas Concert Band invited Adelante Winds to perform Jeff Scott’s Baile Si Quiere! in 2017.
Adelante Winds enjoys working with living composers and expanding the wind quintet repertoire. Attending the Imani Winds Chamber Festival and the Fresh, Inc. Music Festival has afforded them this opportunity. In 2016, Adelante Winds premiered Marnen E. Laibow-Koser’s Fantasy-Ricercar. During the summer of 2018, the ensemble had the privilege of premiering Emily Joy Sullivan’s Spirit Moves and Bronwen McVeigh’s Spring Songs.
In 2018, Adelante Winds participated in the inaugural Seminario Institute, an event on diversity, equity, inclusion, and arts advocacy. During the course of this event, the quintet collaborated with Quinteto Latino, Quinteto Seminario, to premiere a new piece by Chris Pratorius-Gomez titled Cumbia del Quinceanero.
Giving younger composers a voice is an integral part of Adelante Winds’ mission. The ensemble had the pleasure to serves as judges for the American Festival for the Arts composition competition in 2018. The selected winner of this competition is having their composition premiered by Adelante Winds.
Adelante Winds helped serve its San Antonio community by performing at an International Day Celebration: an event, coordinated by Adelante Winds french hornist LaNetra Carther, designed to foster community and celebrate diversity in the Adult Education Program of North East Independent School District of San Antonio, TX. In September 2017, Hurricane Harvey had a significant impact on the local community. The ensemble felt compelled to organize a benefit concert to provide diapers, canned foods, and other provisions to those affected by the major natural disaster.
In 2019 Adelante Winds wanted to give young musicians a chance to experience the joys and benefits of playing chamber music. They launched their annual Adelante Winds Chamber Music Camp, which is free to all attendees.
Adelante Winds looks forward to working with educational programs in elementary and secondary schools, commissioning new music, recording an album, collaborating with outreach groups for local communities, and continuing to perform with divergent artists.
Watch Adelante Winds perform in our School Concert videos!