It's been a bittersweet year for the musicians of Manitou Winds. Earlier in 2025, the ensemble's founder and artistic director Jason McKinney said farewell to the ensemble and to northern Michigan.
"I think we all went through a little bit of a grieving period," Laura Hood said. "We all took some time to dream individually about what Manitou Winds could continue to be."
Hood and remaining fellow members Sam Clark, Lauren Murphy and Jeanmarie Riccobono then got together and had a very important brunch.
"We seemed to be incredibly aligned in terms of our dreams and hopes and wishes for Manitou Winds," Hood said.
They reached out to oboist Michael Beery, who has joined them as the newest member.
The ensemble still feels McKinney's artistic presence even after his departure. They continue to play some of his compositions and arrangements, although they are adapting them for Manitou's current musicians.
Regarding "A Manitou Christmas Medley," Hood said she added more oboe parts in to McKinney's arrangement, allowing more opportunities for Michael Beery to play. She also adapted the harp parts for piano, and those will be played this weekend by guest musician Dorothy Vogel.
This year, Manitou Winds celebrates a decade of their holiday season concert, entitled "Winter Songs and Carols." Each year, the program features an eclectic mix of music and poetry that captures the many different moods of the season.
For example, they'll be performing a piece by Adam Schoenberg called "Winter Music" that Hood said reminds her of trying to catch falling snowflakes on her tongue.
Over the past ten years, specific "Winter Songs and Carols" concerts have particularly stood out in their memories.
"I loved the very first one," Sam Clark said. "It was so special - it was magical and nerve-wracking, at least for me. I was so lucky to be a part of it."
Both Hood and Clark have fond memories of a more recent concert where a potential disaster became an unforgettable experience.
A technical malfunction at the church left them with flickering lights, so they opted to turn off all the lights in the sanctuary and rely on their music stand lights. The pastor and members of the congregation brought out candles for audience members.
"People would approach us afterwards and tell us it was their favorite concert of the season," Clark said. "They said it was special and spiritual and calm to be listening to us in the candlelight."
This year, Manitou Winds welcomes new collaborators for "Winter Songs and Carols," including reader and emcee Norm Wheeler, percussionist Rhys Miller and pianist Dorothy Vogel.
Manitou Winds will present their annual "Winter Songs and Carols" concert at two northern Michigan locations this weekend: Friday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Andrews Church in Beulah, and Saturday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church in Traverse City. (details here)
The Friday evening concert will be livestreamed from the St. Andrews website (link here).
Michael Culler engineered this edition of Studio A.
