When vocal ensemble Cantus and wind quintet Imani Winds take the stage together on Sept. 16, audiences will experience a collaboration years in the making. Their program, “My Ancestors Speak,” brings together the two acclaimed ensembles in a performance centered on heritage, identity and the stories that connect generations.
Through newly commissioned works, spirituals and music inspired by traditions from around the world, including Chinese folk music, Hawaiian musical traditions and Japanese contemporary classical music, the concert explores how artists honor the past while creating something entirely their own. Keep reading to learn more about Cantus, Imani Winds, and the music behind “My Ancestors Speak.”
Since its founding in 1995, Cantus has become one of the nation's premier vocal ensembles, known for its rich sound and collaborative approach to music-making. Performing without a conductor, the ensemble builds programs that combine musical excellence with compelling storytelling.
Founded in 1997, Imani Winds has become one of the most influential wind quintets in contemporary classical music. The Grammy Award-winning ensemble is known for championing new works, celebrating diverse musical traditions and bringing fresh perspectives to the chamber music repertoire.
Though they come from different corners of the classical music world, the two ensembles share a commitment to collaboration, innovation and creating meaningful connections with audiences.
One example of that shared vision can be heard in Jeff Scott's “Three Spirituals,” featured on the program. Scott, a composer, horn player and former member of Imani Winds, has long drawn inspiration from African American musical traditions. His arrangements honor the history and emotional power of spirituals while creating space for new interpretations by today's performers.
The program also features newly commissioned music by Pulitzer Prize finalist Alex Weiser and composer Angélica Negrón, winner of the 2022 Hermitage Greenfield Prize. Their works join music by Chinese American composer Chen Yi, Japanese composer Tōru Takemitsu and more, whose compositions draw on a range of cultural traditions and personal histories.
Together, these works create a program that looks both backward and forward. Rather than treating ancestry as something fixed in the past, “My Ancestors Speak” explores how traditions continue to evolve through each new generation of artists.
For Cantus and Imani Winds, this collaboration is more than a meeting of two ensembles. It is a conversation between voices, cultures and histories. Through music that spans continents and generations, "My Ancestors Speak" invites audiences to reflect on the stories that shape who we are and how those stories continue to resonate today.
Single tickets are on sale now for Cantus and Imani Winds: My Ancestors Speak, performing Sept. 16 in Shannon Hall.
Program Selections Include:
Feng, Chen Yi
Vocalise II from Wind Horse, Tōru Takemitsu
My Ancestors Speak, Alex Weiser*
Three Spirituals, arr. Jeff Scott*
Red Clay & Mississippi Delta, Valerie Coleman
*Joint repertoire performed by Cantus and Imani Winds