The West Virginia University School of Music will host reed quintet Calefax for a performance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 8 at the Creative Arts Center in Morgantown. 

Calefax is a close-knit ensemble of five reed players united by a shared passion. For more than three decades they have been acclaimed in the Netherlands and abroad for their virtuosic playing, brilliant arrangements and innovative stage presentation. They are the inventors of a completely new genre: the reed quintet. They provide inspiration to young wind players from all over the world who follow in their footsteps. Calefax can be defined as a classical ensemble with a pop mentality.

“Calefax, having one foot planted on traditional ground, and the other stepping forward into uncharted territory, was a perfect fit for the inaugural Canady Chamber Series,” said Michael Ibrahim, director of WVU’s School of Music. “The ensemble is variation on a wind quintet but with saxophone and bass clarinet instead of flute and horn. Their repertoire includes transcriptions of masterpiece works as well as newly commissioned pieces.”

The performance is the last concert in this year’s Canady Chamber Music Series. The ensemble will also give a masterclass to WVU students at 9 a.m. March 9 that is free and open to the public. The concert and the masterclass will be held in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre. For tickets, visit: http://bit.ly/2I0Oujg