The Washington Saxophone Quartet (WSaxQ) will be at UCA this week as part of UCA’s Artist in Residence program.
“I wanted to bring them to UCA because I felt they had a wide appeal,” said Dr. Jackie Lamar, professor of saxophone at UCA. “They’re really well known and a good example for my students. I know they are all great players. I could have invited a lot of different people that would have been good teachers. But they are marvelous.”
The WSaxQ is most famous for the musical theme to All Things Considered, a daily program on National Public Radio. Reginald Jackson (soprano), James Steele (alto), Rich Kleinfeldt (tenor), and Rick Parrell (baritone) make up the Washington D.C.-based quartet that has played together for more than 20 years. Each member of the WSaxQ has a graduate degree in music and plays a different saxophone. Each member of the group today will teach a private lesson on his preferred saxophone to Lamar’s students.”It will be a real hands-on experience,” Lamar said. “I think the students will hear a really good role model and a sound to aspire to.”
Kleinfeldt said the group was looking forward to being Artists in Residence.
“It’s an opportunity for us to get as involved as possible during our three-day stay,” he said. “I think we’ll take every chance to be part of the music and educational life on campus.”
On Tuesday, Nov. 18, the WSaxQ will hold a master class for two student saxophone quartets at 1:40 p.m. in the Snow Fine Arts Center Recital Hall. During the class, students will play two popular saxophone pieces in front of the WSaxQ. Parrell, the baritone saxophonist of the WSaxQ, will also lecture to an Instrumental Arranging class at 9:25 a.m. in Snow 120.
On Wednesday, Nov. 19, the group will speak to an Honors College High Table at 3 p.m. in McAlister Hall room 302. That evening, the WSaxQ will close the residency with a concert in Reynolds Performance Hall at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19.
All residency events are free and open to the public.
