Arts and Culture Texas: WindSync turns 15: How does the Garden Grow?

Arts and Culture Texas
By Sherry Cheng

Back in 2009, the music entrepreneurship movement was gathering steam and start-up ensembles were popping up everywhere. WindSync was one of them, and it immediately stood out with its innovative style. The nascent wind quintet, formed at Rice University’s Shepherd School, sought to challenge convention and engage audiences in a radically different way. They played in a standing position, often from memory, eliminating the music stand that separated performer and audience, thereby fostering an intimate environment where direct communication and engagement is not only possible but inevitable.

On and off the stage, the ensemble was interested in bringing chamber music for winds to the audience through inventive and interactive concert experiences. “These days we call it education and outreach,” explains Kara LaMoure, WindSync’s Artistic Director and bassoonist. “But basically they [the founding members] wanted to learn to communicate musical concepts to young people, and they wanted to have theatrical elements in the performance.”

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