Daniel Gordon and Frontier Saxophone Quartet to Give Concert at SUNY Plattsburgh

October 05, 2012

SUNY Plattsburgh’s Department of Music will present Daniel Gordon in a faculty recital with the Frontier Saxophone Quartet Sunday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m. in Krinovitz Recital Hall, located in Hawkins Hall. Admission is free.

The program consists entirely of works by Seattle composer John David Lamb, who has written more than a dozen compositions for saxophones in various combinations. The Frontier Quartet will divide up to perform the works, which call for differing numbers of players. They will all join together to perform a movement from Lamb’s “Affirmations” for saxophone quartet. In addition, pianist and SUNY Plattsburgh faculty member Dr. Karen Becker will provide accompaniment for several of the selections.

Lamb will be in attendance to discuss his work.

The Frontier Saxophone Quartet, founded in 2003, is a chamber music ensemble comprised of soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones. Its members are active performers in the North Country and Montreal. The name “Frontier” reflects the cross-border cooperation that allows their musical collaboration to take place, as well as the group’s frequent performances of new works that explore the “musical frontier.” Since its founding, the Frontier Quartet has premiered works by SUNY Plattsburgh composer William Pfaff, Texas composer Dominic Dousa and Finnish composer Janne Ikonen.

Soprano saxophonist Gary Scavone teaches music technology at McGill University in Montreal. Todd Pray, who plays alto sax, is a music instructor for Peru Central Schools and director of the Adirondack Youth Orchestra. Tenor saxophonist Linda Sullvian is director of the Plattsburgh High School Band and president of the Clinton County Music Educators’ Association.

Meanwhile, Gordon, who plays baritone sax, is member of the music faculty at SUNY Plattsburgh and currently serves as department chair. His responsibilities include teaching studio saxophone, directing the Saxophone Ensemble and Symphonic Band, and instructing various classroom courses. In 2002, he founded the Adirondack Wind Ensemble. Gordon regularly performs and conducts both regionally and abroad.