SFA to present faculty saxophone recital
November 17, 2009
NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Saxophonist Brian Utley and pianist Ron Petti, both members of the music faculty at Stephen F. Austin State University, will present a faculty recital at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.
The duo will perform Bernhard Heiden's "Sonata for Saxophone and Piano," one of the staples of the saxophone repertoire, and "Seresta No. 1" by Brazilian composer Liduino Pitombeira.
"'Seresta' is the Brazilian term for 'serenade,' and this work incorporates the vocal aspects of a lamenting serenade and the rhythmic vitality of much South American music," explained Utley.
The program also includes Japanese composer Ryo Noda's "Improvisation III," a work for solo saxophone that evokes the sounds of the shakuhachi, a bamboo flute that has long been used in Japanese music.
Utley, who is an associate professor of saxophone, maintains an active performance schedule and was recently featured as a soloist with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra. He is a regular presenter at regional and national conferences of the North American Saxophone Alliance. He has also performed at international events such as the 2003 World Saxophone Congress and the 2006 Conference of the International Clarinet Association.
He is a co-founder of the award-winning Red Stick Saxophone Quartet and has recorded on the New Tertian Records and Magni Publication labels.
Petti, who serves as SFA's director of accompanying, joined the SFA music faculty in 1999 after earning his doctorate in piano performance/chamber music and accompanying from Florida State University.
As a soloist, Petti has presented master classes in piano, served as adjudicator in piano competitions, and has concertized throughout the midwest and southern states. As a collaborative artist, he maintains a demanding concert schedule with SFA guest artists and faculty and as a member of The Alazan Trio. He can also be heard on the CRS recording label in performances of contemporary chamber works.
The recital is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music. Cole Concert Hall is located in the Wright Music Building, 2210 Alumni Dr.
Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For tickets or more information, please visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.