Guest clarinet, saxophone recital scheduled at SFA

Montgomery Cole

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Montgomery Cole, associate professor of clarinet and saxophone at Mercer University (Georgia) and pianist Jean Roberts, adjunct faculty at Stephen F. Austin State University, will present a guest artist recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus. Admission is free.

The duo will perform two pieces for clarinet and piano: John Ireland's "Fantasy Sonata" and Joan Tower's "Fantasy."

They will also present three works for alto saxophone and piano: Jean Absil's "Fantaisie-Caprice," Karel Husa's "Postcard from Home" and Alfred Desenclos' "Prelude, Cadence and Finale." The latter is one of the most challenging pieces in the saxophone repertoire, according to Brian Utley, SFA associate professor of saxophone.

A member of the Mercer faculty since 2002, Cole appears throughout the United States as a clinician and performing artist in both the classical and jazz areas.

As a clarinetist, he has worked with the Richmond (Indiana) Symphony, Lexington Philharmonic, St. Martin Chamber Orchestra (Cincinnati) and the Macon Symphony Orchestra. He is the principal clarinetist with the Ocmulgee Symphony in Hawkinsville, Ga., and has toured the United State and Canada with the Audubon Chamber Ensemble.

As a saxophonist, he has toured with the Guy Lombardo Big Band and performed with jazz artists such as Frank Mantooth, Vince DiMartino, Brad Goode, Pat Harbison, and Randy Porter. Recently, he performed with Josh Groban on The Oprah Winfrey Show and in concert with Barry Manilow.

Roberts was a senior lecturer in the Townsend School of Music at Mercer University before joining the SFA School of Music faculty. She has also taught at Furman University and North Greenville College in S.C. and at the Western Australian Conservatorium of Music in Perth, Australia. She received her doctoral degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Her performances have been broadcast on National Public Radio and by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. She has performed with the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra, Penang Festival Orchestra in Malaysia, Charlotte Philharmonic, Charlotte Repertory Orchestra, Salisbury Symphony Orchestra and Macon Symphony Orchestra.

The recital is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music. Cole Concert Hall is located in the Tom and Peggy Wright Music Building, 2210 Alumni Dr.

For more information, please call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.