Festivo Winds are a dynamic Wind Quintet based in Manchester, composed of five wind players, all graduates from the Royal Northern College of Music. As students at the RNCM, they have received coaching from the Haffner Wind Ensemble, Kevin Gowland, Rob Buckland, Laura Jellicoe and Stefano Canuti. The group formed in December 2017, and have since gone on to swiftly achieve competition success, including the RNCM’s Audience Favourites prize at the Christopher Rowland Competition, the John Fewkes Prize, the June Emerson Launchpad Award and the Tunnell Trust Awards (finalists).
Festivo specialise in the core repertoire for wind quintet, as well as promoting arrangements and brand new works from emerging composers. As a result of taking a strong interest in adding to the current repertoire, this has lead the group to performing at major venues and events across the North of England, including the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, the RNCM Chamber Music Festival, and a brand new exhibition in collaboration with Yoko Ono at the Leeds Art University in February 2019.
In 2019, Festivo took part in the launch of the 'Start the Music' Scheme at St Aidan’s High School in Harrogate, aiming to provide high school students the opportunity to take music lessons and loan instruments for a year, all costs covered by the school’s music association. The group have also taken part in the 'FridayLive' scheme in Cumbria, performing and delivering workshops to students of mixed ages throughout primary and high schools across Cumbria.
Festivo regularly perform at a number of UK concert series and festivals, including the Buxton International Festival, the Manchester Chamber Concerts Society, Music Coll in Scotland and various venues across the North West of the UK.
Part of the regular series of light classics concerts hosted by St Laurence's Church, Chorley.
Tea and cake included.