update July/August 2008 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Greetings, Saxophonists, This issue of Update is the saxophone geek, spend time talking with artists who share first that has been created ex- our passion (I don’t know about all of you, but I can tell clusively for online publica- you that my wife has heard enough about mouthpieces to tion. While the form of the last her a lifetime) and catch up with some of my oldest newsletter is not expected to friends. What a great time. change in the near future, what is different is that we expect 2010 Biennial publication to be on schedule. As long as I am talking about the biennial, I should men- In fact, in practice, this may tion that we are still looking for a host for 2010. If you or mean that we may be able to your institution are on the fence about whether to make a post Update ahead of schedule proposal, know that not only can NASA give you unprece- (you can find submission dead- dented help in the form of advice and support from past lines and how-to-submit instructions at saxalliance.org. In hosts, but we have been developing several strategies to the “publications” drop-down-menu click on help make hosting biennials less stressful, including finan- “Newsletter”). This should help make Update a more at- cial incentives for the host studio. Contact me tractive venue to list your upcoming and recent events. Be [email protected] if you have any questions. sure to download a full-color PDF of Update for your re- cords by clicking on the link at the top of the page. NASA Competitions One of the highlights of the Biennial conference was Biennial Conference undoubtedly the performance competitions. Newly reor- NASA recently celebrated its biennial conference at the ganized by our new Competition Coordinator Connie University of South Carolina School of Music April 16- Frigo and Jazz Coordinator Rick vanMatre, this year’s 19. Special kudos go to host Cliff Leaman and his studio competitions were certainly the largest and, especially for organizing a conference that could be described in su- with the inclusion of the quartet competition, the most perlatives. It was the largest biennial conference to date complex ever. In the end there were 58 solo entrants, 25 with over 250 performances and more than 600 registered quartets, and 5 jazz finalists who participated, along with attendees. The weather was beautiful, events ran (mostly!) 18 judges between the various rounds of each competition on time, venues were clearly marked and the USC saxo- and at least 19 pianists. The results were well worth the phone students were helpful and friendly. You can see effort. In addition, through a combination of large partici- conference photos (or submit your own) by visiting the pation and support from both Jamie Aebersold and Van- “Members Area” of saxalliance.org. doren, NASA was able to raise the award amounts. Here This conference, as with past biennials, reaffirmed to me are the results of the performance competitions: the importance of what NASA is all about. In addition to the scores of new works performed, master classes, con- certos, competitions, exhibits, lectures, and the high level (Continued on page 2) of the performances, it was a chance to revel in our inner UPDATE PAGE 2 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE (Continues from p. 1) 2008 Classical Quartet Competition of new work by creating a composition competition. To 1st place: H2 Quartet (Michigan State University), Geof that end, we have formed a special committee. I don’t frey Deibel, Jeffrey Loeffert, Jonathan Nichol, have specifics to share at this time except that the competi- Kimberly Goddard tion is likely to be held in rotation with the performance 2nd place: Zzyzx Quartet (Indiana University), Stacy Wil competitions. In other words, this coming year could see son, Stephen Page, Matthew Evans. Dana Boo the first composition competition. her 3rd place: North Carolina School of Arts Saxophone Quar Constitutional Vote tet, Annalise Stalls, Joey Trahan, Corey Dundee, The NASA Executive Committee is submitting to the Ryan Lemoine membership a vote to amend the NASA Constitution to Finalists: Assembly Quartet (University of South Carolina), allow the use of electronic and web-based voting. This Lauren Meccia, Sid Tyner, Matt Younglove, Adam will expedite the execution of current initiatives and facili- Estes tate similar updating of the remainder of the Constitution. Quadrivium Quartet (University of Minnesota), Look for a ballet on this matter to land in your mailbox Andrew Duren, John Cummins, Andrew Brobston, within a few weeks. David McCarthy Larry Teal 2008 Classical Performance Competition The new biography, Larry Teal: There Will Never be 1st place: Edward Goodman, Another You, is now available from the NASA Store. 2nd place: Douglas O'Connor Written by Mary Durden Teal and edited by Thomas Li- 3rd place: Jeffrey Loeffert ley, with cover art by Jennifer Scott, this book is a fasci- Finalists: Dana Booher, nating look into both the life of one of America’s first Jonathan Yannik classical saxophone teachers and the life of performing musicians in the first half of the twentieth century. This 2008 Jazz Performance Competition book will make a great addition to your reference collec- tion and is a bargain at $25 for NASA members. 1st place: John Leadbetter 2nd place: Justin Janer New Officers 3rd place: Remy Le Boeuf I would like to welcome our two newest NASA Offi- Finalists: Greg Johnson II cers. James Romaine, saxophone and jazz professor at Drake University, has been appointed as Membership Di- Samuel Ryder rector, and Thomas Lowry, saxophonist and computer Composition Competition genius, has taken over the reigns as NASA Web-master. You can find contact information for both at – where else A confluence of happy circumstances - the success of – www.saxalliance.org. the recent performance competitions and the terrific cur- rent financial health of NASA - has made it possible for NASA to address an area of our Mission statement – Best wishes, “fostering and facilitating the creation of new repertoire” – Steven Stusek that we haven’t visited since the commissioning of the Maslanka Sonata. Rather than commissioning another work, however, we have decided to stimulate the creation PAGE 3 MEMBER NEWS On March 11, 2008, Nicholls State Uni- versity, in conjunction with Southeastern Louisiana University, hosted a South Lou- isiana Saxophone Day in Thibodaux, Louisi- ana. Jeffrey Vickers, a Selmer Clinician and Assistant Professor of Music at Southern Ar- kansas University, presented a master class and recital. The three-hour master class fea- tured students of Paula Van Goes from Nicholls State University and Richard Schwartz from Southeastern Louisiana Uni- versity. Vicker's recital included works by Vivaldi, Sancan, Heiden, Larsson, and Iturralde; pianist Sharon Ard also per- formed. Conn-Selmer, Inc provided sponsorship for the event. Dave Camwell has re- The Idaho Saxophone Trio is releasing a second re- leased a new classical CD cording in the America's Millennium Tribute to Adolphe titled Aeterna. The disc Sax Series, a compilation CD set by Arizona University features original works for Recordings. The Trio recorded the Trio by Alan saxophone by John An- Hovhaness; the recording will be released June 1 on Vol- thony Lennon, Nate Brown, ume 14. The Idaho Saxophone Trio was formed by Bill Ron Albrecht, and Steven Perconti, Joy Atkin of Lewiston, Idaho, and Vanessa Siel- Galante, as well as Cam- ert of the University of Idaho to explore saxophone trio well's arrangements of repertoire. works by J.S. Bach, Nic- colo Paganini, and Robert Jackie Lamar, Professor of Saxophone at the Univer- Schumann. Aeterna was released on Tom Bergeron's Teal sity of Central Arkansas, premiered Concerto for Alto Creek Music label and is available at CDBaby Saxophone and Wind Ensemble, by Charles Booker, Jr., on http://cdbaby.com/cd/camwell and many other online April 22 with the UCA Wind Ensemble with repeat per- sources such as Amazon and iTunes. Noted saxophonists formances with the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith James Bunte (Galante's Sax Sounds III: Diminishing Re- Symphonic Band on April 25 and 26. The piece was also turns) and Jim Romain (Bach Double Concerto BWV performed with the UCA Wind Ensemble on a tour of 1043) are featured on the CD, along with pianist Ron Austria with Music Celebrations International. Albrecht. Early reviews have been very favorable, with composer John Anthony Lennon describing Camwell's Peter Sommer has a disc as "fantastic and sublime playing!” More information new release on Capri Re- can be found on Camwell's website, cords titled Crossroads www.davecamwell.com . featuring Rich Perry (Maria Schneider, Van- Saxophonist Michael Ibrahim has joined the music fac- guard Jazz Orchestra) in a ulty at West Virginia University. Ibrahim will continue to two-tenor frontline with perform contemporary works in New York City in con- Eric Gunnison, piano, Ken certs affiliated with Amp, Either/Or, Fireworks Ensemble, Walker, bass, and Todd Manhattan Sinfonietta, Red Light New Music, Riot, and Reid, drums. The program the SEM Ensemble. In April, he co-organized the first includes Sommer originals, annual HiFi New Music Festival in NYC. Information on as well as some standard and not-so-standard classics from HiFi can be found at www.hifimusicfestival.org. the jazz repertoire. Peter Sommer is Assistant Professor of Jazz and Saxophone at Colorado State University in Fort On April 28 at Lewis-Clark State College, saxophonist Collins and is an active performer and recording artist. Bill Perconti premiered a work by Allan Blank. Entitled Peter is featured on a number of releases from Capri Re- Five Sketches for solo alto saxophone, the work is one of cords and Synergy Records and is also a founding member four new pieces by Blank for saxophone solo, trio, and of the Ninth and Lincoln Jazz Orchestra in Denver.