Founded in the summer of 2025 at the Gustav Mahler Academy in Bolzano, the Vayla Quintet brings together five young musicians from Germany, Italy, and Spain: Jana Barenschee (flute), Emanuele Momo (oboe), Pablo López Ortega (clarinet), Daniele Falco (bassoon), and Benedikt Geiger (horn). The name Vayla comes from the Finnish word väylä, meaning “path” or “passage”, reflecting the ensemble’s interest in exploring different musical traditions and approaches.
During their first residency at the Gustav Mahler Academy, the quintet worked on Carl Nielsen’s Wind Quintet and received coaching from members of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. As principal players in the Mahler Academy Orchestra, they also performed Sibelius’ First Symphony under the direction of Sir John Eliot Gardiner. The residency concluded with concerts in Bolzano and Toblach.
In January 2026, the ensemble met in Berlin to expand its repertoire and develop new programmes. In June, they participated in the GazteKlasika Festival in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, with the project Winds in Motion: Dialogues Across Europe, which combined chamber music performances, workshops, and artistic exchange.
In August 2026, the Vayla Quintet returned to the Gustav Mahler Academy for a second residency, focusing on music from the early twentieth century and performing on period instruments from the Euregio Foundation in Toblach. The project included a European tour with the Mahler Academy Orchestra, with performances in Amsterdam, Bolzano, Hamburg, Cologne, Toblach, and Vienna.
Through their work, the Vayla Quintet combines chamber music, historically informed performance practice, and collaboration across different musical and cultural backgrounds.