WWU’s ‘Fifth Inversion’ To Play at the NFA Convention Aug. 11

Western Washington University’s wind quintet, Fifth Inversion, will be featured at the 2017 National Flute Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota in August, performing five new, five minute compositions by five Western faculty composers.

Fifth Inversion is comprised of Western faculty, including flute instructor Lisa McCarthy, oboe instructor Jennifer Weeks, clarinet instructor Erika Block, bassoon instructor Pat Nelson and horn instructor Gustavo Camacho.

The National Flute Association (NFA) selected their proposal, “5x5x5,” out of nearly 500 entries.

Their performance at the convention will premiere five new compositions by Western faculty members Roger Briggs, Bruce Hamilton, Lesley Sommer, Adam Haws and Todd Smith.    Each composer was given the guideline of writing a five minute work for wind quintet, using the number five as their theme, and including explorations into new sounds for this traditional ensemble.

Fifth Inversion’s NFA debut on Aug. 9 will feature the premiere of Roger Briggs’ “Serpents,” Bruce Hamilton’s “Comminglings,” Lesley Sommer’s “Grabber,” Adam Haws’ “You Look Different” and Todd Smith’s “Five as One.”                                    

The quintet plans to perform these works locally in a recital at the Western Performing Arts Center on Jan. 28, 2018 at 3 p.m.