New Album "American Sonatas from Two Millennia" Release
New Album “American Sonatas from Two Millennia” will be released on June 13th from Samek Music Classical Clarinet and Saxophone Recording Label.
In recent years, the classical saxophone has gained significant popularity in the musical community with its versatility, stunning tonal quality, and musical capabilities. Invented by Adolphe Sax for a symphonic purpose, the history of the saxophone enjoyed a vibrant development in Jazz and Classical music. Described by New York Concert Review as “A knockout performance", classical saxophonist Wonki Lee has distinguished himself as one of the leading saxophonists of his generation. Feeling equally at home in traditional and contemporary repertoire, his musical exploration has encompassed fascinations with the history of saxophone repertoire and interpreting original works for saxophone with new insights and understandings. As a Yamaha Performing Artist, Wonki Lee’s engagements extend globally. Er-Hsuan Li is a highly accomplished pianist. A native of Taiwan, Li has performed across Europe, Asia, and the United States. He is in great demand collaborating with concert saxophonists in the United States.
The new album American Sonatas from Two Millennia features some of the best musical works written for saxophone and piano by American Composers. David Maslanka's music portrays deep human emotions and the breathtaking beauty of Montana's landscape. It will take you on a musical journey of tremendous turmoil and stunning beauty. This album is the premier recording of the new edition digitally engraved by his son Matthew Maslanka. Robert Muczynski takes the listener to Arizona's desert from the opening musical gesture. The listener will be drawn into a world of rhythmic and harmonic escapade with the broad dynamic range, the contrast in tempo, and the virtuosic interplay between the two instruments. Finally, the listener will experience an amalgamation of musical styles with Willaim Albright. The music is full of the manic drive, quirkiness, and rough edges that result from the rubbing together of starkly contrasting musical impulses of classical, jazz, ragtime, and contemporary music. All three sonatas have become cornerstones of classical saxophone repertoire. Wonki Lee and Er-Hsuan Li present invigorating interpretations of prodigious works with this album.
PBS 11th and Grant
Guest Artist Appearance
11th & Grant with Eric Funk is the premiere outlet for music performance in Montana, seeking out the state's most acclaimed, accomplished, and pioneering talent. The Emmy winning performance series also devotes significant time to each artist's personal story, insights into their music and their approach to life, ultimately providing a deeper experience than a seat at a concert.
Bozeman Symphony Orchestra Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances
Celebrate the start of our new season with the vibrant spirit of American music! Be captivated by Wynton Marsalis’ Violin Concerto in D Major, performed by the talented violinist Hannah Ji. This dynamic work, inspired by the travels of renowned violinist and educator Nicola Benedetti, unfolds in four movements — each revealing a different facet of her dream, brought to life through Marsalis’ dazzling, storytelling-inspired composition.
Then, surround yourself with the rich, evocative soundscapes of Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances. As the only piece Rachmaninoff composed entirely in the United States, Symphonic Dances is a powerful blend of mystery, nostalgia, and exhilarating energy. This dramatic orchestral suite brims with hauntingly beautiful melodies, mysterious waltzes, and electrifying rhythms, culminating in a triumphant, virtuosic finale.
Recital "American Sonatas from Two Millennia"
Faculty Recital at Reynolds Recital Hall, featuring the program from American Sonatas from Two Millennia
Bozeman Symphony Orchestra
Rhapsody in Blue & Bernstein’s Symphonic Dacnes
Experience one of Gershwin’s most iconic works, Rhapsody in Blue—a 1924 tour de force that helped define the Jazz Age. Originally written for solo piano and jazz band, this exhilarating piece fuses classical structure with the infectious energy of jazz. With its bold rhythms, sweeping melodies, and dazzling improvisatory spirit, Rhapsody in Blue remains a testament to Gershwin’s genius in bridging musical traditions.
Continuing this seamless blend of styles, Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story offers a thrilling orchestral suite adapted from his legendary musical. Spanning nine movements, the Symphonic Dances captures the raw emotion and dramatic intensity of West Side Story, weaving together classical techniques with jazz rhythms, Latin dance styles, and electrifying synopations.
Bridging past and present, Grammy Award-winning pianist Michelle Cann joins us for Florence Price’s Piano Concerto in One Movement, a masterpiece of rich, late-Romantic lyricism that seamlessly blends tradition with innovation. And Grammy Award-winning composer Shaw’s The Observatory offers a kaleidoscopic, filmic journey. Premiered by the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2019, the piece is named after the Griffith Observatory overlooking Los Angeles.
Bozeman Symphony Pictures at an Exhibition (Ravel)
This concert unfolds slowly with Shekhar’s Lumina, a delicately beautiful piece that imagines a journey from darkness into light. Principal Percussionist Dana Dominguez, a Bozeman favorite, is featured with a marimba playing Grammy Award-winning composer Puts’ Marimba Concerto. This piece is a favorite of our music director and features the marimba in both melodic and ornamental roles alongside the orchestra. Finally, experience Ravel’s epic orchestration of Modest Mussorgsky’s piano suite Pictures at an Exhibition, a musical tour of artworks by Russian architect and painter Viktor Hartmann that one of Ravel’s chroniclers once described as a “dazzling array of instrumental color.”
Saxophone Recital in Reynolds Recital Hall
Faculty Recital at Reynolds Recital Hall premiering a new saxophone concerto by Eric Funk along with pianist Julie Gosswiller and clarinetist Greg Young.
Program:
Eric Funk - The Hero’s Journey, Op. 184 - Fantasy for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra (World Premier)*
Robert Aldridge - Sound Moves Blues for clarinet, alto saxophone, and piano
Joel Love - The Manitou Incline for soprano saxophone and piano
Bozeman Symphony Holiday Spectacular
Our most popular concert of the year! Featuring local singer and songwriter Paige Rasmussen, who has shared the stage with Bozeman's own Paige and the People's Band as well as renowned artists like Brandi Carlile, The Doobie Brothers, and many more! Experience the true spirit of the holidays and make life-long memories with very merry music at its absolute best, including our ever-popular Christmas Carol Sing-along. Bring the entire family to our fourth annual Holiday Spectacular, a must-attend concert that will bring you peace and uplift your spirit.
Madrigal Dinner! in Strand Union Building
Tickets go on sale on Friday, November 1 through the Bobcat Ticket Office for Montana State University's popular Madrigal Dinners, to be held Saturday Dec. 7 and Sunday Dec. 8 in the Strand Student Union Ballrooms on the campus of Montana State University, and on Thursday, Dec. 5th in Big Sky.
Tickets for the performances on campus are $45, and may be purchased at the Bobcat Ticket Office in the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., free parking for ticket buyers is provided in the lot directly below the ticket office. Tickets may also be purchased over the phone (994-CATS) or online at ticketswest.com (search “Montana State Madrigal Dinner”), a convenience fee is required for purchases made online or over the phone.
The MSU School of Music production, in its 60th year, transports contemporary guests to a Renaissance feast. For two nights the MSU Strand Ballrooms are transformed into a great baronial hall. MSU catering creates a traditional Renaissance dinner with a gourmet twist and courtiers perform traditional carols sung for centuries during the twelve days of Christmas.
Genevieve Burmeister, director of MSU catering, and crew will prepare a menu featuring a pork loin dinner or a vegetarian option with all the fixings. The meal includes a traditional dessert for the holidays and plenty of wassail!
Noël!
Three choirs and the Symphony Orchestra of the School of Music at Montana State University will perform the ninth annual Noël Concert on Friday, December 6th. There will be two performances, one at 5:30PM and the other at 7:30PM. Admission is $25 and all tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets will be available through the Bobcat Ticket Office, 994-CATS and at ticketswest.com beginning on Friday, November 15th. The popular holiday concerts have sold out yearly, so get your tickets early!
Madrigal Dinner! in Big Sky Resort
Tickets go on sale on Friday, November 1 through the Bobcat Ticket Office for Montana State University's popular Madrigal Dinners, to be held Saturday Dec. 7 and Sunday Dec. 8 in the Strand Student Union Ballrooms on the campus of Montana State University, and on Thursday, Dec. 5th in Big Sky.
Tickets for the performances on campus are $45, and may be purchased at the Bobcat Ticket Office in the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., free parking for ticket buyers is provided in the lot directly below the ticket office. Tickets may also be purchased over the phone (994-CATS) or online at ticketswest.com (search “Montana State Madrigal Dinner”), a convenience fee is required for purchases made online or over the phone.
The MSU School of Music production, in its 60th year, transports contemporary guests to a Renaissance feast. For two nights the MSU Strand Ballrooms are transformed into a great baronial hall. MSU catering creates a traditional Renaissance dinner with a gourmet twist and courtiers perform traditional carols sung for centuries during the twelve days of Christmas.
Genevieve Burmeister, director of MSU catering, and crew will prepare a menu featuring a pork loin dinner or a vegetarian option with all the fixings. The meal includes a traditional dessert for the holidays and plenty of wassail!
The dinner will also be held at the Big Sky Resort in on Thursday, December 5th. Tickets for that performance may be purchased by calling the Arts Council of Big Sky, 406-995-2742.
MSU Saxophone Studio Recital
MSU Saxophone Studio will present a studio recital of solo performances.
Montana Chamber Music Society Noon Notes Concert Series at the Shane Center Livingston
Hector Villa Lobos - Fantasia for soprano saxophone and orchestra (arr. For saxophone quintet)
Robert Muczynski - Sonata for alto saxophone and piano (arr. For saxophone quintet)
Lars Erik Larsson - Concerto for alto saxophone and orchestra (arr. For saxophone quintet)
Rudy Wiedoeft - Sax-o-phon & Saxophobia
Reynolds Hahn - A Chloris
Maurice Whitney - Rumba
Montana Chamber Music Society Noon Notes Concert Series
Hector Villa Lobos - Fantasia for soprano saxophone and orchestra (arr. For saxophone quintet)
Robert Muczynski - Sonata for alto saxophone and piano (arr. For saxophone quintet)
Lars Erik Larsson - Concerto for alto saxophone and orchestra (arr. For saxophone quintet)
Rudy Wiedoeft - Sax-o-phon & Saxophobia
Reynolds Hahn - A Chloris
Maurice Whitney - Rumba
André Waignein Rhapsody in NYC
Guest appearance at the annual concert series at St. Francis of Assisi Church in NYC.
André Waignein Rhapsody for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra (ver. piano)
Wonki Lee, alto saxophone
Jae Eun Park, piano
The Evening of Saxophone Chamber Music
MSU Saxophone Studio will present an evening concert of saxophone chamber music ranging from saxophone duet to saxophone ensemble.
MSU Saxophone Ensemble Pop Up Concert
MSU Saxophone Ensemble will perform John Mackey’s Lightning Field, Maurice Ravel’s Bolero, and Gustav Holst’s Jupiter at Norm Asbjornson Hall (2nd Floor).
David Maslanka Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Wind Ensemble
Masato Kumoi is one of the most celebrated concert saxophonists today. He is a professor of saxophone at Kunitachi College of Music, and he leads the Masato Kumoi Saxophone Quartet, one of Japan's most revered saxophone ensembles. As a champion of David Maslanka's music (David Maslanka was a renowned American composer who lived in Missoula MT), Mr. Kumoi recorded most of the saxophone music written by the composer. MSU School of Music is honored to host Mr. Kumoi for a week of residency including peforming David Maslanka's Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Wind Ensemble with MSU Wind Symphony conducted by Dr. Nathan Stark along with Dr. Wonki Lee, Dr. Yoko Kusaka, and Mr. Jesse Dochnahl as soloists.
MSU Fall Choral Concert
The choirs at Montana State University will give their first performance of the 2024-2025 season on Tuesday, October 15 in Reynolds Recital Hall beginning at 7:30 PM. Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for students. The program will include a wide variety of choral favorites by Montana State’s four choral ensembles.
"O Little Town of Bethlehem" arr. Dan Forrest for choir and soprano saxophone.
Music Seminar Recital
Presenting a lecture of “How to appreciate contemporary music”. Performing Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano by William Albright with Dr. Erhsuan Li.