BYU NewsNet - Orpheus Winds delights audience members

Several BYU faculty members are sharing their musical talent in a toe-tapping series throughout May.

Orpheus Winds was featured last Friday kicking off the Deseret Chamber Music Series which will continue tonight with the Utah Trombone Authority and May 29 with a BYU faculty ensemble at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall with free admission.

“We’re professional performers, not just teachers,” said Jaren Hinckley, BYU clarinet professor, member and director of Orpheus Winds.

Orpheus Winds is a woodwind quintet composed of BYU faculty which performs on campus and worldwide. This group is comprised of five performers: April Clayton, flute; Geralyn Giovannetti, oboe; Jaren Hinckley, clarinet; Christian Smith, bassoon; and Laurence Lowe, horn.

Giovannetti, oboe professor, said this group was established more than 40 years ago, giving an opportunity for faculty to be involved in a performing group as a part of the job requirement.

Friday’s performance was a showcase of American music by living composers and was particularly special because it was the world premier for Laurence Lowe’s “Reflection for Wind Quintet,” Clayton said.

Audience members applauded the debut of Lowe’s newest composition with two movements, “Hope” and “Hubunculus.” Lowe explained the significance of the name and feeling behind the made up word “Hubunculus”.

“It’s that thing that keeps you from truly feeling joy,” Lowe said. “It has a motif of unrest that won’t go away.”

The unique blend of sounds that flowed from each individual instrument in the quintet inspired Fairon Smith and Carolyn Smith to spring out of their seats at the end of the performance, being the first to stand in a standing ovation.

The Smiths, parents of Christian Smith, bassoonist for Orpheus Winds, are loyal enthusiasts of the group. Carolyn Smith said they have been to more performances than they could ever number.

She was particularly excited for the premier of Lowe’s piece and said the group would be traveling to England for more performances this summer.

“Well, he didn’t get it from me. The only thing I played was the spoons,” said Fairon Smith about his son’s talent.

Carolyn Smith said her son grew up playing every instrument imaginable.

This love for music was evident to Leianne Ward from Orem, currently enrolled in a Music 101 class at BYU.

“I was amazed at the skill of the performers, their expertise and how well they played together,” Ward said. “You can tell they love what they are doing.”

Hinckley said he hopes people can enjoy a professional performance for free in a “nice relaxing evening of beautiful music” by participating in the Deseret Chamber Music Series.