About Valinor Winds

Valinor Winds was formed in the fall of 2009 at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and currently consists of Sasha Launer, flute, Jessie Huntsman, oboe, Brenden Guy, clarinet, Alexis Luque, bassoon, and Caitlyn Smith, horn.  Hailing from across America as well as from England and Honduras, the members of Valinor Winds have the exciting opportunity to blend their various musical backgrounds into a unique and powerful sound.  The group prides themselves on their mastery of a wide range of repertoire, from the classic woodwind quintets of Barber and Nielsen, to rarely performed works such as the quintets of Holst and Berio, to contemporary pieces such as Eight Figments by Nicholas Pavkovic. Valinor Winds recently commissioned a work from Bay Area composer Joseph Stillwell and will give the premiere in April 2013. In addition to works originally written for woodwind quintet, Valinor Winds also perform their own arrangements, including a rendition of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, premiered in 2011, and Grieg's Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, premiered in 2013.