Eastman School of Music’s 10th anniversary celebration of its Italian Baroque Organ continues with a Third Thursday concert titled “Organ and Saxophone: Sights and Sounds” on Thursday, March 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the Memorial Art Gallery. The program will feature the Eastman Saxophone Project and Eastman organ students Caroline Robinson and Brian Schoettler performing works by David Dahl, Ellwood Derr, György Ligeti, Alessandro Marcello, Hieronymus Praetorius, and Tielman Susato.
The Eastman Saxophone Project (ESP) strives to promote the popularity of the saxophone through innovative programming and versatile performances, thereby providing an exciting and invigorating concert experience for a diverse audience.
ESP’s repertoire spans a wide spectrum of musical genres, with the vast majority of works arranged by ensemble members. Each program is presented from memory and without a conductor, showcasing artistry, creativity, and spontaneous musical communication among the performers. ESP also steadily contributes to the expansion of saxophone ensemble repertoire by collaborating with composers; these have included Jennifer Bellor, Steven Bryant, Ted Goldman, John Mackey, and Jon Russell.
Since their founding in 2010, the Eastman Saxophone Project has quickly become one of the most recognized saxophone ensembles in the world. They made their New York debut at Steinway Hall in 2011, were the featured ensemble at the 2014 North American Saxophone Alliance Conference, and have appeared on National Public Radio through WXXI’s Backstage Pass. In addition to multiple outreach concerts, ESP performs two full-length productions a year in Rochester, New York. The ensemble made their Kennedy Center debut in 2015. Archived performances of ESP are shared through the “EastmanSaxProject” channel on YouTube.
The Eastman Saxophone Project is directed by Chien-Kwan Lin and is comprised of his studio at the Eastman School of Music. Jonathan Wintringham serves as the ensemble’s assistant director and chief arranger. ESP is a Conn-Selmer Artistic Ensemble and endorses Selmer (Paris) saxophones.
Eastman’s Italian Baroque Organ was built around 1770 in central Italy. Restored and installed in 2005 at the Memorial Art Gallery, the instrument is the only one of its kind in North America. The organ’s beautiful, authentic sounds have been heard by thousands of people who have come to the weekly Sunday mini-recitals and the special monthly concerts by internationally known guest artists and Eastman musicians.
Admission to the concert is included in Gallery admission, which is half-price on Thursday nights and free to UR student ID holders. This concert is made possible by the Rippey Endowed Trust.
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