Mondays can be rough.

There’s a reason that tired “Office Space” quote “Looks like someone has a case of the Mondays!” refuses to sink into the abyss of worn-out cliches. But coming up on Feb. 15 is something to soothe any such Blue Monday, as the Midwest Winds Woodwind Quintet will perform a free concert at the ArtWorks Center at 7 p.m.

Midwest Winds is a part of The Air Force Band of Mid-America, which is the principal musical ambassador of Headquarters Air Mobility Command. These talented musicians have had the distinction of performing for Pope John Paul II, Presidents George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter, and dozens of heads of state abroad. The band also performs civic outreach for audiences throughout the Midwest, playing about 400 engagements each year.

While the band is quite large, the Midwest Winds quintet is made up of just five players who deliver world-class music in small group settings and concert halls as well as offer clinics and master classes to young music students.

Staff Sgt. Rachel Maclary, flute, is originally from Delaware and joined the Air Force in 2010 after receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from the Hart School. Airman First Class Ryan Jones, oboe, is a Maryland native who holds a Bachelor of Music from The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University as well as an Artist Diploma from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Staff Sergeant Joseph Philpott, a native of Georgia and clarinet player, earned his B.A. from Northwestern University and his Masters of Music from the University of Georgia. Technical Sergeant Peter Dahlstrom, horn, is the Noncommissioned Officer-In-Charge of Midwest Winds and is originally from Ohio. Sergeant Dahlstrom holds a Bachelor of Music from Illinois State University. Senior Airman Sara Garing, also a native of Ohio, plays bassoon for Midwest Winds and holds a Bachelor of Music from Baldwin-Wallace College as well as a Master of Music from Indiana University.

The dynamic ensemble’s repertoire is as diverse as their musical backgrounds, including renaissance and contemporary styles, popular marches, and patriotic crowd pleasers.

For those of you who need something to look forward too on any given Monday, we’d love to see you there.