Sonora Winds Concert and Residency May 2023

 

Sonora Winds, a Twin Cities-based woodwind chamber group, was formed in 2016 with the goal of bringing accessible, lesser-known music to audiences through transformative performance experiences.

The three women of the Sonora Winds, Madeline Miller (oboe), Anastasiya Nyzkodub (clarinet), and Marta Troicki (bassoon) believe that access to excellent classical music enriches lives. By presenting unique music through outreach and education, living composers and well-known standards can be discovered, rediscovered, and appreciated on an intellectual and emotional level. By performing and discussing programs, the musicians of Sonora Winds can stimulate, enrich, and impact varied audiences.

In 2016, Sonora Winds started as a group of musicians all with a passion to explore chamber works that are rarely performed and have never been recorded. This shared interest spawned a host of concerts at colleges, public schools, churches, and retirement communities in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota. Some of the group’s early performance locations include St. Olaf College, University of Minnesota campuses in the Twin Cities and in Duluth, and Edina Public Schools.

As the ensemble solidified and grew in recognition, their repertoire became more specific. Sonora’s bassoonist, Marta, was inspired by her Polish heritage to uncover little-known chamber music by Polish composers. The group’s growing specialty in Polish music led to their invitation to perform at the Polish Festival in Minneapolis and the Polish Independence Gala in 2018.

Not long after, the decision was made to record and release their first CD, “From Shadow to Light.” This album features woodwind trio and quartet works by six 20th Century Polish composers: Baird, Garścia, Lutosławski, Szałowski, Walentynowicz, and Źuławski. The CD launch was met with praise from numerous critics:

“[Sorona Winds] music comes alive through the skillful, talented, soulful playing and as a tribute to both the composers and the musicians, the state-of-the-art MSR recording brings the clear, resonate sounds of the instruments to the ears of the listener as if the works were being performed live.” — Joel C. Thompson, Cherry Grove Music

Sonora Winds has continued their momentum, receiving two major grants in 2019: the University of Minnesota Travel Grant and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Project Support Grant. The University of MN grant enabled the trio to tour Texas, playing and teaching at three colleges, and the Arts Council Grant supported the group in sharing music through eight concerts at several Minnesota retirement communities. In 2022, they were awarded a Minnesota State Arts Board grant, which made this New York Mills concert and residency activities possible.

Musician Bios:

Anastasiya Nyzkodub, clarinet

Described as a clarinetist with ”fluid technical mastery of her instrument and delightfully liquid phrasing,” Anastasiya Nyzkodub is an active solo, chamber, and orchestral musician and music educator. She currently teaches at the Rubinstein Music Academy, Crescendo School of Music, and maintains a private clarinet studio in the Twin Cities.

Dr. Nyzkodub has extensive experience performing as an orchestral musician with Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, and Mankato Symphony Orchestra, among others. She had performed as a guest soloist in the concerts with eminent pianist Denis Evstuhin and MN orchestra violinist Helen Chang Haertzen at the Museum of Russian Art. She also was a guest clarinetist for the Leland Musical Arts Celebration Concert (MI) featuring the musicians from Traverse Symphony and faculty from Texas Tech University.

Before coming to the United States, Dr. Nyzkodub performed as a soloist and orchestral musician in concerts across Russia, Ukraine, France, and Italy. Dr. Nyzkodub completed her Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees at the University of Minnesota. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Grand Valley State University. While earning her Doctorate degree, she worked as a Teaching Assistant for Music Theory and Ear-Training at the University of Minnesota.  Anastasiya’s main teachers include Scott Anderson, Alex Fiterstein, Arthur Campbell, and Sergiy Nizkodub.

Madeline Miller, oboe

A native of Northern Minnesota, Madeline Miller works in the Duluth-Superior area as a freelance oboist, private teacher, and reed-maker. As part of her teaching career, she presently teaches oboe and English horn at the University of Wisconsin Superior (UWS). Madeline frequently plays with many local music ensembles
including the Twin Ports Wind Orchestra, North Shore Philharmonic, Mesabi Orchestra, Northern Lights Music Festival Orchestra, Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, and the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra. Beyond the Twin Ports area, Madeline has performed with the Itasca, Kenwood, and Mankato Symphonies. Adding balance and versatility to her musicianship, Madeline also plays saxophone.

While earning her undergraduate degree, Madeline studied both classical and jazz music with Theodore Schoen and obtained a minor in Jazz Studies from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Madeline received inspiration at a young age from her parents, both professional musicians and educators. She attended the University of Minnesota-Duluth to study with Laurie Van Brunt (Florida Symphony, Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra).

Madeline continued her education at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where she completed her MM with John Snow of the Minnesota Orchestra. She has also studied privately with Joseph Peters (North Carolina Symphony). Since her graduation in 2019, Madeline has been working with the Minneapolis-based Sonora Winds Trio.

Outside of her musical endeavors, Madeline enjoys spending time at her family cabin in Ely, MN with her husband Chase, and their cat, Mizza. The Millers welcomed their son, Wilbur in October 2020 and look forward to going on many adventures with him.

Marta Troicki, bassoon

Marta Troicki has extensive experience as a solo, chamber, and orchestral musician, which has taken her to many places in the United States and around the world. Her musical journey started in her native Poland and continued in New York where she enjoyed performing with New York Choral Society Orchestra, Queensborough Symphony Orchestra, and Five: a Woodwind Quintet.

Marta has performed at numerous locations, including the Carnegie Music Hall in New York City and with the Arab Emirates Philharmonic Orchestra in Dubai. She has also held a principal bassoon position with Pittsburgh Live Chamber Orchestra, among others. She is an active soloist who has performed numerous times with the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and the Kenwood Symphony Orchestra in Minneapolis. Outside of performing as a soloist and recitalist, Marta is an active chamber musician; she is the founder and artistic director of Sonora Winds, an all-women chamber ensemble.

Marta holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Hofstra University in New York, a Master of Music Degree from the Purchase Conservatory of Music in New York, an Artist Diploma Degree from the F. Chopin Conservatory of Music in Warsaw, Poland, and a Doctorate Degree in bassoon performance from the University of Minnesota School of Music. Marta’s principal teachers include Nancy Goeres, Donald MacCourt, Boguslaw Gadawski, John Miller Jr., and Norbert Nielubowski. Marta lives in Edina with her husband and three kids.

All are invited to the May 5th public concert at the Cultural Center. Adult tickets are $10; click below or pay at the door. Students are FREE thanks to MSAB residency grant funding!

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You won’t want to miss this live music experience at the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center. All are welcome! Call the Cultural Center with questions: 218-385-3339.