Wright State Saxophone Quartet strikes a chord in Scotland

The Wright State Saxophone Quartet and its director, Shelley Jagow, traveled to Scotland for the World Saxophone Congress.

The Wright State University Saxophone Quartet returns home from Europe this week with a reason to toot their horns.

Selected among 1,000 applicants from around the world, the quartet traveled to St. Andrews, Scotland, to participate in the World Saxophone Congress.

The event, held every three years, is an opportunity for gifted musicians to gather in celebration of classical saxophone music. Each day of the congress is filled with recitals, lectures, concertos and performances given by renowned saxophonists from all over the world.

“There were approximately 700 performers and lecturers in attendance and there were six simultaneous venues to select from throughout each day,” said Shelley Jagow, professor of music and associate director of bands.

The performance of the Saxophone Quartet resonated beautifully with those in attendance at the congress.

“Several in attendance at the quartet performance came up after the recital and offered their congratulations and expressed how impressed they were with the artistic expressiveness and technical control of such difficult contemporary works for saxophone quartet,” said Jagow.

Impressed by Wright State’s performance, a composer from Edinburgh, Scotland, is now in the process of creating a piece exclusively for the quartet.

John Seaton, the soprano saxophonist in the Saxophone Quartet, gave a remarkable solo performance at the congress. Seaton was received so well that many saxophone instructors from prestigious universities have been trying to recruit him for graduate studies.

“Maybe our presence at the world congress will help initiate further foreign collaborations with institutions and composers, as well as spark an interest in potential international recruiting,” said Jagow.

All performances at the congress were recorded and will soon be broadcasted on www.adolphesax.com.