What is the Left Coast Quintet?
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Left Coast Quintet, or LCQ, is a professional wind quintet based in San Diego, made up of flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, and bassoon.

Since 2014, we've performed throughout Southern California at corporate events, concerts, museums and cultural programs, community events, weddings, fundraisers, holiday celebrations, and plenty of places that don't fit neatly into any category.

What makes us a little different is the combination of five completely different instruments and a music library that goes far beyond traditional classical repertoire. We can move from Mozart and Debussy to jazz, Broadway, Taylor Swift, movie soundtracks, video games, and plenty of unexpected favorites.

We also perform as the Left Coast Trio, featuring flute, clarinet, and bassoon, when a smaller ensemble is a better fit for the space or event.
Why choose LCQ over other ensembles in San Diego?
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There are plenty of wonderful musicians in San Diego, but a wind quintet offers something most guests don't hear every day.
With flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, and bassoon, LCQ brings together five completely different instruments, each with its own sound and personality. That gives us an enormous range, from elegant classical music and jazz to Broadway, pop, movie soundtracks, video games, and plenty of unexpected favorites.
We're also a dedicated ensemble, not five musicians meeting for the first time at your event. We perform and rehearse together regularly, have built a library of hundreds of arrangements, and know how to adapt what we do to everything from a corporate reception or wedding to a museum program or full concert.
Most importantly, we want the music to be memorable. Guests regularly come up to us because they've never heard a wind quintet before, want to know more about the instruments, or can't believe the song they just recognized was being played by a bassoon, French horn, and friends.
Do you learn new songs?

Absolutely! One of our favorite parts of what we do is helping clients bring their own musical ideas to an event.
Our library already includes hundreds of arrangements spanning classical music, jazz, Broadway, pop, film and television, video games, holiday music, and more. But if there's a particular song or piece you'd love to hear and we don't already have it, we can often arrange it specifically for our ensemble.
We've created custom arrangements for weddings, corporate events, themed programs, and special performances over the years. Just let us know what you have in mind and we'll see what we can do.
The earlier you ask, the better, since arranging and rehearsing new music takes some time, but we're always happy to consider a special request.
When should I book LCQ?

The earlier, the better, especially if you have a specific date in mind.

Our calendar can fill up months in advance for popular weekends, holidays, and busy event seasons, so we recommend reaching out as soon as your date and venue are confirmed. That also gives us plenty of time to help plan the music and create any custom arrangements you may want.

That said, don't assume it's too late! We frequently accommodate events on shorter notice when our musicians are available, so it's always worth asking.

If you're planning well ahead, we're happy to reserve dates a year or more in advance too.
What kinds of events do you perform for?

Just about anything that could use great live music.
Left Coast Quintet performs for corporate events, holiday parties, cocktail receptions, conferences, galas, fundraisers, museum and cultural events, community concerts, weddings, private celebrations, school and university programs, graduations, senior communities, and public events throughout Southern California.
We’re comfortable providing polished background music while guests mingle, being a featured part of the program, or presenting a full concert for a seated audience. We can also tailor the repertoire to the event, whether you’re looking for something sophisticated and classical, upbeat and familiar, cinematic, seasonal, or built around a particular theme.
If you have an event that doesn't fit neatly into one of those categories, that's completely fine. We've played in some pretty unusual places over the years, and we're always interested in something new.
What is your pricing?

Pricing varies depending on the type of engagement, ensemble configuration, performance length, travel, holiday dates, and program requirements.

For events and private celebrations, our quintet and trio options are popular and typically start at competitive rates, with clients usually expecting between $1000-$1500 for a booking.

For community concerts, recital programs, or collaborative performances with narration or multimedia elements, we provide tailored proposals based on program length and production needs. The best way to get accurate pricing is to contact us with your event or presentation details.
Do you travel outside of San Diego?

Yes! While we're based in San Diego, we regularly travel throughout Southern California for performances and events.
We've performed across San Diego County and beyond, including Orange County, Riverside County, Temecula, and other destinations throughout the region, and we're always open to traveling farther for the right event.
Travel fees or minimum booking requirements may apply depending on the location, so send us your venue and date and we'll be happy to provide a quote.
What makes a wind quintet different from other chamber ensembles?
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Unlike ensembles where the instruments come from the same family, a wind quintet brings together five completely different instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, and bassoon. Each has its own distinct sound, range, and personality, giving the group an incredible variety of colors to work with.

That means a wind quintet can sound delicate and elegant one moment, warm and lyrical the next, and surprisingly bold and cinematic when all five instruments come together. It's one of the reasons we're able to play such a wide variety of music, from classical works written specifically for wind quintet to jazz, Broadway, pop, movie soundtracks, and video game music.

It's also an ensemble many people don't encounter very often, which makes it a fun alternative to more familiar chamber groups.

You may know all five instruments individually, but hearing them together is a completely different experience.

Any other music related questions?

We love talking about music, programming, and creative possibilities! If you have questions about repertoire, concert ideas, or how LCQ can partner with your venue or event, feel free to contact us anytime.

​Here is the link to our contact form. ​