The Faculty Artist Series presents George Sakakeeny, Professor of Bassoon at the Eastman School of Music, Saturday, January 27, at 4 p.m., in Kilbourn Hall at the Eastman School of Music. The program includes: Mignone: Valsa Braziliera 6a for Solo Bassoon; Augusta Read Thomas: Pilgrim Soul for bassoon and cellos; Stravinsky’s Octet, as well as pieces by Faure, Ibert, Rabel and Janáček. The pieces include parts for cello, flute, oboe, clarinet, horns, piano, trumpets, and trombone, in addition to Sakakeeny’s bassoon, making it a truly lively concert.
George Sakakeeny ESM BM ’78, has appeared as a soloist with orchestras throughout North and South America, Europe, and the Far East, including engagements in Vienna at the historic Musikverein, at Severance Hall with members of the Cleveland Orchestra, and a nationally televised concert in Japan under the baton of Seiji Ozawa. Three major works for bassoon and orchestra have been commissioned for him: Libby Larsen’s full moon in the city (2013), and bassoon concertos by Peter Schickele (1998) and Viennese composer Alexander Blechinger (1997).
As a soloist, he has been recorded numerous times including his latest solo CD, “full moon in the city”, which features four previously unrecorded works for solo bassoon and orchestra, Blechinger’s Bassoon Concerto with the Kiev Camerata, and his famous recording of the Villa-Lobos Duo for Oboe and Bassoon with oboist Alex Klein, on the IDRS 25th Anniversary CD. Other available media featuring George Sakakeeny include two teaching videos published by the new world symphony.
The Faculty Artist Series is generously supported by Patricia Ward-Baker.
Tickets for Eastman’s Faculty Artist Series are $10 for the general public and free to current Season Subscribers. Tickets can be purchased at the Eastman Theatre Box Office, 433 East Main St.; by phone (585) 274-3000; or online at http://eastmantheatre.org
# # #
About Eastman School of Music:
The Eastman School of Music was founded in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman (1854-1932), founder of Eastman Kodak Company. It was the first professional school of the University of Rochester. Mr. Eastman’s dream was that his school would provide a broad education in the liberal arts as well as superb musical training. The current dean is Jamal Rossi, appointed in 2014.
About 900 students are enrolled in Eastman’s Collegiate Division– about 500 undergraduate and 400 graduate students. Students come from almost every state, and approximately 20 percent are from other countries. They are guided by more than 95 full-time faculty members. Six alumni and three faculty members have been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music, as have numerous GRAMMYÒ Awards. Each year, Eastman’s students, faculty members, and guest artists present more than 700 concerts to the Rochester community.