About

The Ensemble

Lisa Choi, flute  •  Nathaniel Wolff, oboe  •  Kyle Glasgow, clarinet • Molly Flanagan, horn  • Christian Whitacre, bassoon

Artist Statement

The word “Homogenous,” is one that the wind quintet naturally struggles with. Five completely different instruments are complimented by equally unique personalities. We choose to embrace our eclectic menagerie of musical identities and dare to share them with vulnerability. Our performances celebrate individuality, energy, and real emotional honesty. Following our creative intuitions, we are unafraid of brashness and camp. Our unabashed self-expression invites audiences to connect with us not just on an artistic level, but on a personal level. When we play, you can see who we are.

Full Bio

IGNIS is an award winning ensemble committed to unlocking the expressive potential of the wind quintet medium by “taking what is an inherently unmatched ensemble and not trying to compensate for it.” Whether through the music of Mozart or music of the 21st century, IGNIS creates memorable, impactful performances by highlighting the “multi-layered, complex musical personalities” of its five members and celebrating the ways these distinct voices combine and interact. The ensemble was founded in 2021 as the University of Maryland’s sixth graduate fellowship woodwind quintet and served as the ensemble in residence at the 2022 Maine Chamber Music Seminar. During their fellowship at the University of Maryland, IGNIS was awarded first prize in the 2023 NOLA Chamberfest Emerging Artists competition and was a top

As devotees to the music of today, IGNIS focuses on presenting works by a diverse array of living composers and seeking expressive opportunities beyond the canonic wind quintet repertoire. In 2022, the ensemble was awarded an M-Cubator grant that financed the commissioning of Shivering by Ancel Neely, an innovative work for wind quintet with live electronic manipulation. IGNIS has also premiered the chamber symphony Desire Paths by William Kenlon.

As educators, IGNIS has taught at elementary, middle, high school, and collegiate levels. For the 2021-2022 season, IGNIS partnered with the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra, leading sectionals and teaching student masterclasses. IGNIS has worked with schools in the Prince George’s County public school system, leading assemblies and classes in addition to leading small scale chamber music coachings for advanced students. At the collegiate level, members of IGNIS coached undergraduate music major chamber ensembles at the University of Maryland.

IGNIS currently consists of members Lisa Choi (flute), Nathaniel Wolff (oboe), Kyle Glasgow (clarinet), Molly Flanagan (horn) and Christian Whitacre (bassoon).