2008-2009 Season

Rehearsals for the new season of the Siskiyou Saxophone Orchestra begin on September 30th. Concerts at the SOU Music Recital Hall will be November 14th, February 20th and May 15th.

Music for this season will include Devil's Rag by Jean Matitia, a Gabrieli Canzona, and Celluloid by Randall Snyder featuring our new Selmer Bass Saxophone–yet to arrive. In the spring will be the world premiere of an Elegy for the victims of the Sichuan Earthquake commissioned by the Siskiyou Saxophone Orchestra composed by Todd Barton. July is the XVth World Saxophone Congress in Bangkok Thailand. Will we be going?

November's concert will feature Rhett Bender performing the Glazounov Concerto for alto saxophone arranged for saxophone ensemble and conducted by Vicki Purslow. Also featured is Purslow's arrangement of Joplin's Bethena and guest conductor, SOU graduate Erin Luce leading the ensemble in an arrangement of Beethoven's Egmont Overture. Music for 12 Saxophones by Walter Hartley and Intrada by Arthur Frackenpohl will demonstrate east coast, American-style compositions for saxophone orchestra.

Orchestra members, music is now available. See Dr. Bender for your part and begin practicing.

Globe Saxophone Quartet

, originally uploaded by bendersaxophone.

Above is the Globe Saxophone Quartet's publicity photo from July. We will use this for our upcoming season. John and his wife Linda are leaving next week to teach in Taipei, Taiwan–both on Fulbright Fellowships. I am trying to arrange my schedule to guest lecture at their host school this November.

The Globe's performances the season will probably include a return trip to Georgia in March. The details of the tour are being worked out. We also hope to perform at the XVth World Saxophone Congress this July in Thailand.

2008 Crater Lake Century

2008 Crater Lake Century, originally uploaded by bendersaxophone.

Summer school ended Friday. We have nearly a month break before school resumes in the Fall. Many of you know that Jody and I spend time bike riding and racing. Two weeks ago we road Cycle Oregon Weekend in Astoria. This Saturday we road 80 miles from Fort Klamath around Crater Lake and back to Fort Klamath. With 7000 feet of climbing and 90 degree heat it was a tough ride.

Jody and I have been using rides like Crater Lake and some local races to get in shape for our September vacation to Italy. We will be spending my fortieth birthday at the Italian Bicycling Center outside of Venice. I'll be using the weeks before we leave for Italy training, preparing for fall classes, winterizing the house and splitting a lot of firewood.

ACMW Week 2 Day 5

Here are images from the last day of the 2008 Ashland Chamber Music Workshop.




Thank you all for a great week!