The UTC Saxophone Quartet will be traveling to George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, to appear on the program of the 2009 32nd Annual United States Navy Band’s International Saxophone Symposium on January 24. The UTC group will join such prestigious quartets as groups from the Universities of Michigan, South Carolina, Bowling Green State, SUNY Potsdam, Eastman, Indiana, Northwestern, Miami, Youngstown, Duquesne; all recognized centers of Saxophone excellence and influence.
“It is a significant honor for our saxophone quartet to be invited to represent UTC at this international conference. This is a tribute to the students’ dedication to excellence and the work of their director, Clint Schmitt,” said Dr. Lee Harris, head of the UTC Music Department.
The Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium began in 1978 under the leadership of Chief Musician Dale Underwood who wanted to improve the experience he personally had while attending the World Saxophone Congress in Belgium. Thirty years later, the event has grown into the largest two-day saxophone conference in the United State. The goal of the symposium has always been to provide a hands-on learning experience for saxophonists of all ages and abilities.
“This is a highly prestigious event that attracts the best in saxophone quartet performance from all across the US and Europe,” said UTC Saxophone instructor Clint Schmitt. “Events the quartet will participate in will include a recital in which they will be featured performers, clinics and master classes on the most recent practices of saxophone performance, lecture-recitals covering new and established saxophone repertoire, and concerts and recitals by leading performers from around the world.”
The members of the UTC Saxophone Quartet are Jon Elliott (Chattanooga), Andrew Parkhurst (Signal Mountain), Tyler Edrington (Ooltewah) and Ian Lewis (Soddy-Daisy).
Schmitt, adjunct instructor for saxophones, is a noted saxophone performer with a resume that includes performances with such prestigious organizations as the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Opera Company of Boston, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Portland (Maine) Orchestra, the Peerless John Philip Sousa Band, WGBH-FM radio in Boston, WFMT-FM radio in Chicago, and the New England Conservatory Orchestra, as a concerto competition winner. In addition to his performances he maintains a full teaching schedule.
For further information contact the UTC Music Dept. Office, 423-425-4601.
