Join the RefleXions team as we sit down with members of Imani Winds and students from the UARK bands to discuss their experiences and answer questions about music, excellence, and creative justice

A native of Queens, NY, Jeff Scott started the French horn at age 14, receiving an anonymous gift scholarship to go to the Brooklyn College Preparatory Division. An even greater gift came from his first teacher, Carolyn Clark, who taught the young Mr. Scott for free during his high school years, giving him the opportunity to study music when resources were not available. He received his bachelor's degree from Manhattan School of Music (studying with David Jolley), and master's degree from SUNY at Stony Brook (studying with William Purvis). He later continued his horn studies with Scott Brubaker and the late Jerome Ashby. Mr. Scott's performance credits are many and varied. They include The Lion King orchestra (on Broadway, New York) 1997-2005, and the 1994 revival of Showboat 1994-1997. He has been a member of the Alvin Ailey and Dance Theater of Harlem orchestras since 1995 and has performed numerous times under the direction of Wynton Marsalis with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Mr. Scott is also the french hornist in the internationally acclaimed wind quintet “Imani Winds”.

Mr. Scott has also experienced good fortune as a studio musician. He can be heard on movie soundtracks scored by Terrence Blanchard, Tan Dun and on commercial recordings with notable artists such as Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Chris Brubeck, Chico O'Farill, Robin Eubanks, Freddy Cole and Jimmy Heath, among others. Additionally, he has toured with artists such as Barbra Streisand and the late Luther Vandross.

Mr. Scott's arranging and composing credits are many, and include scoring the off-Broadway production of Becoming Something, The Canada Lee Story, the staged production of Josephine Baker: A Life of Le Jazz Hot!, and many original works for solo winds as well as wind, brass and jazz ensembles. His works are published by International Opus, Trevco Music, To The Fore Music and self-published at Music by The Breadman.

Mr. Scott has been on the horn faculty of the music department at Montclair State University (New Jersey) since 2002.

Bassoonist Monica Ellis is a founding member of the Grammy nominated wind quintet, Imani Winds, who in their 23rd season, continue to make ground-breaking art while maintaining a vigorous international touring schedule. Monica’s strong work ethic was instilled very early on from her mother and father, the late jazz saxophonist, Clarence Oden. As the administrative director & tour manager for Imani Winds, and Co-Artistic Director for the Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival, she maintains a fulfilling leadership role within group. A self-proclaimed “band kid”, growing up in her beloved city of Pittsburgh, Monica played clarinet, saxophone and piano. After being introduced to the bassoon in middle school, she realized her potential by studying with Mark Pancerev, of the Pittsburgh Symphony. Ms. Ellis went on to receive her Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, studying with George Sakakeeny. While at Oberlin, her desire to connect with others flourished through her participation in the Panama Project – a month long camp for young Panamanian students. She received her Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School and Professional Studies Certificate from Manhattan School of Music in the Orchestral Performance Program, studying with Frank Morelli at both institutions. Imani Winds formed in 1997, when Monica along with the four other original members, realized that such a group could fill a significant void in the chamber music world. Imani Winds performs relevant and culturally significant music from last 100 years and the next 100 years and are role models to all, but especially to the community of African-American classical wind players. Recording credits include 7 albums with Imani Winds (Koch International Classics, EOne and EMI Classics). Monica can also be heard on the following: Edward Simon – Sorrows and Triumphs, Chick Corea - The Continents, Wayne Shorter Quartet - Without a Net, Mohammed Fairouz - Native Informant, Jeff Scott - Urban Classical Music Project, Brubeck Brothers Quartet - Classified, Steve Coleman – Ascension to Light and Perspectives Ensemble - Montsalvatge Mardrigal. For over 20 years, Ms. Ellis has enjoyed an active freelance career. She has performed with diverse organizations such as the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Absolute Ensemble, Bard Music Festival, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Perspectives Ensemble, and Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, just to name a few. She has also soloed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. A passionate teacher, Ms. Ellis has been a visiting professor or on faculty at The University of Chicago, The Hartt School (CT), Purchase (NY) & Brooklyn College Conservatories of Music, Mannes School of Music and The Juilliard School's Music Advancement Program. Also, a renowned clinician, she has given master classes and solo recital performances across the country. She serves on the advisory boards for Orchestra of St. Luke’s Education Committee and the Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition & Symposium for Women Bassoonists of the Americas, as well as on the Board of Concert Artists Guild (CAG). Monica religiously watches Jeopardy!, loves home decorating and resides in the historic village of Harlem in New York City with the greatest joy of her life - her 6 year old son, Oden.

Clarinetist Mark Dover has always maintained firm roots in classical music, while at the same time devoting his career to searching as deeply as he can into the vast world of improvised music. In January of 2016, Dover joined the Grammy-nominated wind quintet, Imani Winds. With Imani Winds he maintains a busy touring schedule as well as multiple residencies over the past few seasons at such schools as University of Chicago where the group was Ensemble-In-Residence from 2016-2018, Mannes School of Music, and Duke University. Past season highlights include giving the 2018 world premier of Valerie Coleman’s Concerto “Phenomenal Women,” written for Imani Winds with the American Composers Orchestra under George Manahan at Carnegie Hall, as well performances in 2019 with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra under Robert Spano, and the Albany Symphony under David Alan Miller.Dover maintains an active career as a chamber musician, and freelance clarinetist and has performed with The Detroit Symphony under Leonard Slatkin, The Cleveland Orchestra under David Zinman at Kent Blossom Music Center, numerous times with The New World Symphony in Miami Beach, and in the theatre world with numerous Broadway and Off Broadway productions. Mark also has an extensive background in jazz and improvised music and has performed and/or recorded with a wide array of musicians, including Vulfpeck, Edward Simon, Brian Blade, Scott Colley, David Binney, Bernard Purdie, Cyrille Aimée, The Temptations, Darren Criss, and many more. He serves on the clarinet faculty at Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts as well as CUNY Queens College at the Aaron Copland School of Music. markdovermusic.com

Clarinetist Mark Dover has always maintained firm roots in classical music, while at the same time devoting his career to searching as deeply as he can into the vast world of improvised music. In January of 2016, Dover joined the Grammy-nominated wind quintet, Imani Winds. With Imani Winds he maintains a busy touring schedule as well as multiple residencies over the past few seasons at such schools as University of Chicago where the group was Ensemble-In-Residence from 2016-2018, Mannes School of Music, and Duke University. Past season highlights include giving the 2018 world premier of Valerie Coleman’s Concerto “Phenomenal Women,” written for Imani Winds with the American Composers Orchestra under George Manahan at Carnegie Hall, as well performances in 2019 with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra under Robert Spano, and the Albany Symphony under David Alan Miller.Dover maintains an active career as a chamber musician, and freelance clarinetist and has performed with The Detroit Symphony under Leonard Slatkin, The Cleveland Orchestra under David Zinman at Kent Blossom Music Center, numerous times with The New World Symphony in Miami Beach, and in the theatre world with numerous Broadway and Off Broadway productions. Mark also has an extensive background in jazz and improvised music and has performed and/or recorded with a wide array of musicians, including Vulfpeck, Edward Simon, Brian Blade, Scott Colley, David Binney, Bernard Purdie, Cyrille Aimée, The Temptations, Darren Criss, and many more. He serves on the clarinet faculty at Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts as well as CUNY Queens College at the Aaron Copland School of Music. markdovermusic.com

reflect + learn + grow + change + teach

Join the RefleXions team as we sit down with members of Imani Winds and students from the University of Arkansas Community Music School to discuss their experiences and answer questions about music, excellence, leadership and diversity.

Imani comes to us to share their artistry, perspectives, knowledge and experience as we all advance creative justice initiatives through music and the arts in our own communities.

Open to students of all ages and levels, especially those interested in leading community and social initiatives through music!

CMS is an outreach program of the University of Arkansas Music Department that provides fun and student-driven music programs for all in a safe and inclusive environment.

A member of Imani Winds, world-class oboist Toyin Spellman-Diaz has performed with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Chicago Civic Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony, Brooklyn Philharmonic and Orchestra of St. Luke's, and has worked with such conductors as Kurt Masur, Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Boulez, Christoph Eschenbach and Mstislav Rostropovitch. Spellman-Diaz was acclaimed as a "standout oboist with smooth, controlled tone and excellent technique" in the The Washington Post when she performed the Goosens Oboe Concerto at the Kennedy Center and has performed concerti with Chicago Civic Orchestra, Manhattan Virtuosi and the Antara Ensemble. She attended the Oberlin Conservatory, where she achieved her bachelor of music degree, and received her master's and professional studies degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, where she is currently on the faculty of the Precollege Division. She was featured artist at the 2014 Woodwind Day at the Conservatory of Music of Brooklyn College, where she became part of the adjunct faculty in winter 2015.

Join us for a Zoom conversation around the importance of the arts in general, and of music in particular, as a tool to advocate for social and creative justice, as a space for social and community healing, as a pipeline for leadership and artist agency, and as a unique space for social innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Your voice and work in the arts, education and social innovation field is as inspirational as it is important for our region. We will be an honor if you can join us and be part of the conversation.  

Premiere and release of the RefleXions Podcast, featuring "Sing for Hope" co-founders Monica Yunus and Camille Zamora on their first episode on November 17 at noon and again at 7:00 PM, CT, during Ozarks at Large, KUAF 91.3 (listen live)