VALERIE COLEMAN Tzigane for Wind Quintet
“ Within the writing process , I am never satisfied until what needs to be said is fully said .” – Coleman
ABOUT THE COMPOSER
Born 1970 in Louisville , KY
• Coleman began her musical studies at age 11 ; by age 14 , she had already written three symphonies and won several local and state musical competitions .
• Coleman is the creator , founder , and former flutist of the Grammynominated group Imani Winds , one of the world ’ s premier chamber ensembles .
• Coleman has received commissions from Carnegie Hall , The Library of Congress , the National Flute Association , and the Brooklyn Philharmonic . Coleman was listed in Performance Today ’ s 2020 Classical Woman of the Year and was described as one of the Top 35 Female Composers in Classical Music by The Washington Post .
• Her multi-faceted career has led her to be featured with the Philadelphia Orchestra , Atlanta Symphony Orchestra , Boston Symphony Orchestra , and more . She currently teaches performance , chamber music , and entrepreneurship at the University of Miami and is among the world ’ s most frequently performed living composers .
THE WORLD AT A GLANCE
2011
MUSIC Adele ’ s “ Someone Like You ”
MOVIE Moneyball
FUN FACT
Coleman used to pretend to play the flute with fallen tree branches as a toddler .
ABOUT THE PIECE
• Tzigane was composed by Coleman in 2011 for Imani Winds . The work celebrates the virtuosity of each member of the internationally acclaimed ensemble .
• The piece incorporates Middle Eastern and Romani styles of music . Coleman was inspired by the Romani people and their culture , which has been incorporated into several of her works , including her recently composed ROMA .
LITERATURE Teju Cole ’ s Open City
HISTORY Occupy Wall Street Protests
BSO SESSIONS | JANUARY 2021
7