The Kalliope Reed Quintet, founded in 2019, is the first professional reed quintet in New England. Hailed by the Boston Woodwind Society as “a fantastic musical group full of personality and musical abilities, adding up to a sum much greater than the parts”, Kalliope has led the evolution of this ensemble through their many commissions and unabashedly ambitious programming. As a contemporary chamber ensemble and one of the first 50 reed quintets worldwide, their mission is to expand and diversify the reed quintet repertoire and to further strengthen the role of contemporary chamber music in the 21st century by presenting unique, engaging and educational programs to communities locally and worldwide.
They remain steadfast in their goal to expand and diversify the repertoire of the reed quintet, and have commissioned works by Eliane Aberdam, Miguel del Aguila, Daniel Baldwin, Jenni Brandon, Daniel Burwasser, Oliver Caplan, Daniel Cueto, Charles Daniels Torres, Zach Gulaboff Davis, Nubia Jaime Donjuan, Don Krishnaswami, Panagiotis Liaropoulos, Mathieu Lussier, Margaret McAllister, Charles Murrell III, Francine Trester, and Ian Wiese. Kalliope has conducted masterclasses and performances at Berklee College of Music, Dartmouth College, University of Rhode Island, and UMass Dartmouth. Equally engaged in their community, they frequently give concerts throughout the year at local museums, churches, and community venues, as well as youth concerts at Boston Community Music Center.
Kalliope has just released their first album Amaru, now streaming on all platforms. After touring a program of music from across the Americas at music festivals in Mexico, they have also recorded their second album Cañas sin Fronteras (releasing soon!). They are grateful for support received over the years from the City of Boston, USArtists International, Boston Woodwind Society, Regent Theatre in Arlington, Sparkplug Foundation, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Yarmouth Tourism Grant Fund, Alice M. Ditson Fund Recording Grant, City of Boston Opportunity Fund, Puffin Foundation, and the New England Conservatory Entrepreneurial Musicianship award.