The American University Sax Quartet
Two fine new music concerts coming up starting tomorrow:
First, the Phillips family plays music of Eugene Phillips
The Phillips Family will perform a concert featuring two new works by Pittsburgh composer Eugene Phillips: Quintetto Concertante for soprano, flute, two violins and viola, plus his Suite for Viola and Bass Flute. Both works were written at the request of the Phillips family and are being premiered here in Pittsburgh. The Suite for Viola and Bass Flute features the newly invented bass flute, a giant flute sounding two octaves below the standard instrument.
Second, The American University Sax Quartet plays Brooks
The American University Saxophone Quartet is visiting Pittsburgh from Washington DC. They will be joined by University of Pittsburgh faculty and student performers Roger Zahab (violin/viola), Jonghee Kang (piano), and Eric Wiegandt (percussion) for a program that will feature works by George Tsontakis, Michael Torke, Paul Hindemith, Elliott Carter, Aaron Brooks, and Roger Zahab.
The American University Saxophone Quartet is a premier ensemble at American University in Washington DC. Regularly featured at university events, the quartet is committed to the study and performance of contemporary music for classical saxophone. This past semester the group commissioned and premiered a piece by Pittsburgh composer, Aaron Brooks. The work will be performed again at the University of Pittsburgh in May as part of a university exchange. In 2010 the group also premiered THAWST II by Katerina Stamatelos at the International Saxophone Symposium at George Mason University. Coached by Dr. Noah Getz, the quartet consists of Helen West, a recent graduate in music performance and economics; Vincent Guerrero, a junior studying music performance and education; Peter Jones, a senior studying accounting; and Charley Fogel, a recent graduate in psychology.