UGA Studio Performs at 2016 NASA Conference

The UGA Saxophone Studio spent our spring break, March 10-13, 2016, at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX, for the 2016 North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference. For most of the students this was their first time attending the national conference and it blew them all away. Joe Lyons, a junior in the studio said “This was my first Biennial NASA conference, and I couldn’t be happier with how our studio performed. This weekend confirmed 100% that this is what I want as a career, between the performances I saw, the master classes I observed, and the people I met…”

Between going to see all the performances and lectures available, there were rehearsals and our own performances to attend. The studio ensemble performed an arrangement done by our very own Charlie Young (DMA, '19), of David Lang’s 'i lie", and Nick Rich’s "Flocking", which was arranged especially for us.  The NACH Quartet competed in the quartet competition and advanced to the final round, which featured six quartets from across the country.  We are also especially proud of studio alum Gabe Pique (BM, '15), now in graduate school at The Eastman School of Music, who was the winner of the NASA solo competition. DMA teaching assistant Shawna Pennock’s quartet, Dasch Quartet, performed Joel Love’s "In memoriam", and Dr. Connie Frigo was a featured concerto performer in the opening concert playing with world-renowned marimbist Gordon Stout.  They premiered "Fantasia" by Brazilian composer Anderson Pessoa for saxophone, marimba and string orchestra.  An inspiring trip for all!