The Madera Winds will perform an all-American program in a Connecticut’s Own Concert at Wilton Library on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 4 p.m. The group will be playing pieces written for woodwind quintets by American composers Eric Ewazen, Irving Fine, Paul Hindemith and Gunther Schuller. The Madera Winds came together as a group in 2012 and is a blend of Connecticut musicians who have performed over the last 30 years in various chamber groups in Wilton and Fairfield County. The members are Ralph Kirmser, oboe, Janet Atherton, clarinet, Rosemary Dellinger, bassoonist, Zach Glavan, horn and Kerry Walker, flute.
Ralph Kirmser (oboe) of Wilton was a founding member of Prevailing Winds Quintet since the 1980s. He was a principal oboist for the Vermont Symphony Orchestra during his undergraduate days at Dartmouth. He performed with Orvieto Musica, Orvieto, Italy and has given numerous performances in and around Fairfield County, including previous engagements in the Brubeck Room. He is oboist for Morningside Wind Quintet of New York City. Dr. Kirmser is a cardiologist in Fairfield, CT.
Janet Atherton (clarinet) of Norwalk was also a founding member of the Prevailing Winds Quintet. She is a member of the Connecticut Little Symphony and the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra. She received her Master’s Degree from Manhattan School of Music where she was a student of Leon Russianoff. She has previously played clarinet in the National Orchestra Association in New York City, The Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy, and the Congregation of the Arts Festival at Dartmouth College. Ms. Atherton teaches instrumental music in the Greenwich Public School System. She has appeared numerous times on the Brubeck Room stage as a member of Prevailing Winds, Connecticut Little Symphony and Madera Winds.
Rosemary Dellinger (bassoon) received her BFA from S.U.N.Y. Purchase. She began her graduate studies at the Yale School of Music when she decided to take a position as principal bassoonist of La Orquesta Sinfonica de Maracaibo in Venezuela. Upon her return, she pursued a degree in Spanish and is currently teaching the language at Cider Mill School in Wilton. She continues her musical aspirations by playing in several orchestras and groups in the area including the Connecticut Little Symphony, with which she has performed in the Brubeck Room, along with The Madera Winds.
Dr. Kerry Walker is Full Professor of Flute at Western Connecticut State University as well as Principal Flutist with the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, The Ives Orchestra, Connecticut Little Symphony and Camerata New York. She performs with the chamber groups, Manhattan String quartet, Prometheus, Ridge Winds, Dual Excursions, Madera Winds and the Walker/Woodruff duo. Dr. Walker’s degrees are from The University of Michigan, Bowling Green State University, and Texas Tech University. She has performed under many reputable conductors including; Fennell, Revelli, Entremont, Schneider, and Page. While maintaining her flute studio, Dr. Walker directed The Julius Baker Master Classes for the last 20 years held annually at Western Connecticut State University. Walker is a Yamaha performing artist and clinician. Her CD 'Dual Excursions' was released in 2004.
Connecticut’s Own concerts are free of charge. Due to their popularity, registration is strongly recommended. Pre-registrants should arrive by 3:50 to be guaranteed seating; wait-listed and walk-in registrants will be admitted after 3:50 if space is available. Wilton Library is located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in the heart of Wilton Center. For information, directions and registration, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org or call 203-762-6334.