The Mexico City Woodwind Quintet,

is regarded as one of the foremost chamber music groups in Mexico today. Its compact discs, New Mexican Music, Latin American Images and Pan-American Visions, released in 1995, 1998 and 2001, are examples of the Quintet's continued dedication to promote the composition and dissemination of contemporary works by Mexican and Latin American composers, one of the objectives of the group. This goal was realized during its recent tour of Italy presenting for the first time in Europe many new Mexican works. The list of works commissioned by and dedicated to the Quintet is growing, and incorporates the leading Mexican and Latin American composers of today.

The members of the Mexico City Woodwind Quintet - Asako Arai (flute), Joseph Shalita (oboe), Fernando Domínguez (clarinet), Wendy Holdaway (bassoon), Patrick Kennelly (horn) - maintain an active schedule as soloists, recitalists and orchestral musicians. They play in three major orchestras: the National Symphony Orchestra, the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra and the Mexico State Symphony Orchestra, and are also on the faculty of three conservatories. The international background of its members gives the Quintet a unique quality in its artistic approach, especially to new music.