Northwestern Winds
Northwestern Winds is a professional wind quintet formed in 2024. The majority of the quintet attended Northwestern University in Evanston Illinois, and all now reside in the Pacific Northwest. Its members (Flutist Susan Telford, Oboist Edward Benyas, Clarinetist Denise Lum, Hornist Jill Jaques and Bassoonist Steven Morgan) have collectively performed with the Chicago, Seattle, Milwaukee and Oregon Symphonies, the Seattle, Santa Fe and Chicago Lyric Operas, the Pacific Northwest and Joffrey Ballets, and at the Spoleto, Carmel Bach and Bellingham Music Festivals, among others. The ensemble has performed several times at the Edmonds Waterfront Center, and will be featured on the Music at the Museum series at Cascadia Museum on Saturday, August 29, 2026. These distinguished artists constitute the core ensemble of Northwestern Winds and the Northwestern Winds Orchestra, all under the artistic direction of Edward Benyas.
Members of Northwestern Winds will be soloists with Cascade Symphony Orchestra in Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Oboe, Clarinet, Horn and Bassoon on Monday, May 4 at 7:30pm at the Edmonds Center for the Arts.
Northwestern Winds performs with pianist, Kara Benyas, on the Music at the Museum series at Cascadia Museum in Edmonds on Saturday, August 29 at 6pm. The concert features Antonin Dvorak’s Sextet for Piano and Winds in A Major, Op. 81, transcribed by Edward Benyas.
Northwestern Winds joins with the Edmonds Waterfront Center for a 2026-27 concert series on September 29, 2026 and March 30, 2027. Concerts begin at 7pm with tickets available at the door ($15 general; $5 students), all overlooking beautiful Puget Sound.