Vocal ensemble Cantus and wind quintet Imani Winds will perform the ensembles’ program “My Ancestors Speak” Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Shannon Hall at Memorial Union as part of the Wisconsin Union Theater’s (WUT’s) 2026-27 Classical Series.
“My Ancestors Speak” explores ancestry, cultural identity and connections to the past through spirituals, music reflecting Hawaiian and Latin traditions, and contemporary classical arrangements, including two pieces commissioned for this program: “My Ancestors Speak” by Alex Weiser and “Left” by Angélica Negrón.
Founded in 1995, Cantus is a full-time vocal ensemble. It specializes in music for tenor, baritone and bass voices. The ensemble has performed at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and many other nationally recognized performing arts venues.
Wind quintet Imani Winds won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Classical Compendium for “Passion for Bach and Coltrane” and has received two additional Grammy nominations. Imani Winds has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and many other major arts centers across North America. The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture includes a permanent installation recognizing the ensemble’s importance in classical music history.
“This collaboration between Cantus and Imani Winds includes pieces performed by each group separately and together,” WUT Director Elizabeth Snodgrass said. “Like the collaboration, the program, ‘My Ancestors Speak,’ is a special curation of traditional spirituals, contemporary works, and multicultural representation.”
Tickets range from $11 to $72, with discounted prices for University of Wisconsin–Madison students, patrons under 18, and Wisconsin Union lifetime and annual members. Tickets are available online or by calling the Campus Arts Ticketing box office at 608-265-2787. The performance is available as part of a Classical Series or build-your-own subscription, both of which offer savings of up to 20%.
The performance is presented by WUT and the student-led Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Wisconsin Arts Board.