Press

June 14, 2023

Eight Arizona State University music students performing in two saxophone quartets — the Kodachrome Quartet and the Lotus Quartet — recently won four prestigious national and international chamber music wind competitions.

Classical Music Chicago presents the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts. The free weekly concert series features extraordinary music by artists who are early in their careers. Enjoy classical concerts in-person at the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago, located at 55 E. Wacker. Face masks are optional. You may also view from the comfort of your own home.

Join Classical Music Chicago in person or online on September 20 at 12:15 pm for Kodachrome Saxophone Quartet in music by Jun Nagao, Emma O’Halloran, Carter Pann and Antonín Dvorák. Our live concert can also be viewed from our website and 98.7 WFMT.

Formed in 2006, the Plowman Chamber Music Competition provides an opportunity for non-professional musicians to perform in front of a panel of nationally chosen judges. It honours Janice Plowman, a Columbia community member who dedicated her life to education and the arts. This year’s jury comprised pianist Lucille Chung, cellist Amit Peled, and horn player Jeff Scott.

“I founded the Plowman Competition in 2005 — as a collaborative project with the Missouri Symphony Society,” Competition Artistic Director Ayako Tsuruta told The Violin Channel. “Our mission was, and still is, to show our Mid-Missouri area audiences the exceptional talents of young chamber musicians across the nation, and in turn, share our enthusiastic and well-educated audiences with the next generation of performers.”

"If I were judging, I would be looking for an ensemble that has both charisma and professional polish, and most importantly, the desire and passion to perform chamber music," she said.

In 2022, ten new works will be premiered at the PRISMS festival, including commissions from guest artists Sarah Belle Reid, Elainie Lillios, and Tito Rivas for 5th-order Ambisonic Dome, a commission from Hendel Almétus for saxophone quartet, three new works by ASU graduate composers Sofía Matus, Eduardo Orea, and Myles Kellerman, and new works by faculty composers Gabriel Bolaños, Garth Paine and Jody Rockmaker.

Guest artists include Gabriele Baldocci (piano), Robert Spring (clarinet), ACME, Crossing 32nd Street ensemble and Kodachrome saxophone quartet.

Please see below for more information.