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.
Saxophone Recital in Tokyo 2026
Saxophone Recital “American Sonatas from Two Millennia”
Ichigaya Lutheran Hall
Wonki Lee, saxophone
Er-Hsuan Li, piano
Program:
Joel Love - Manitou Incline for Soprano Saxophone and Piano
William Albright - Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano
David Maslanka - Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Saxophone Recital in Seoul, South Korea 2026
Saxophone Recital “American Sonatas from Two Millennia”
Ilshin Concert Hall
Wonki Lee, saxophone
Er-Hsuan Li, piano
Program:
Joel Love - Manitou Incline for Soprano Saxophone and Piano
William Albright - Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano
David Maslanka - Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Bozeman Symphony: WILLIAM WALTON: Belshazzar’s Feast
Enjoy the gentle beauty of Clair de lune —French for “moonlight”— one of the most recognizable pieces in Debussy’s repertoire. This work will immerse you in a dreamlike atmosphere, using open harmonies, unconventional scales, and fluid melodic lines. Just as Impressionist painters captured the fleeting play of light rather than rigid details, the music evokes shifting moods and delicate soundscapes.
Next, we present Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder, performed by one of the most electrifying opera singers of the 21st century, baritone Lester Lynch. The poignant song cycle is based on the poetry of Romantic German poet Friedrich Rückert. As in much of Mahler’s music, melody takes center stage. These five deeply expressive songs journey from the fragrant promise of spring to meditations on solitude and, ultimately, a profound contemplation of the soul’s darkest hour.
The program concludes with Lynch and the Bozeman Symphonic Choir performing Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast. This dramatic oratorio, drawn from biblical texts, tells the story of the Jews’ exile in Babylon. During a grand feast, King Belshazzar desecrates sacred Jewish vessels in praise of heathen gods— only to meet a sudden and divine downfall. With the king’s fall, the Babylonian kingdom crumbles, and the Jewish people triumphantly regain their freedom.
MSU Saxophone Studio Recital
MSU Saxophone Studio will present a studio recital of solo performances.
James Barnes Arioso and Presto for Alto Saxophone and Band
Wonki Lee will perform James Barnes’ Arioso and Presto with MSU Wind Symphony conducted by Dr. Nathan Stark.
Evening of Saxophone Chamber Music featuring Dr. Paul Cohen
MSU Saxophone Studio is pleased to collaborate with renowned saxophonist and educator Dr. Paul Cohen from Manhattan School of Music.
Saxophone Recital at Shane Arts Center
Montana State University faculty artists Wonki Lee, saxophone, and Dr. Er-Hsuan Li, piano, bring their program French Masterpieces for Saxophone and Piano to the Dulcie Theatre. This vibrant concert features beloved 20th-century works including:
Tableaux de Provence (1960) – Paule Maurice
Divertimento (1964) – Roger Boutry
Sonata in C♯ (1943) – Fernande Decruck
This performance promises to be a delightful afternoon celebrating the beauty of musical collaboration by two of Montana’s top concert musicians.
MSU Symphony with Kumamoto University Philharmonic Orchestra
指揮：モンタナ州立大学 トビン・スチュワート
熊本大学 山﨑浩隆
サキソフォーンSolo：モンタナ州立大学 ウォンキ・リー
《カウボーイ序曲》／ジョン・ウィリアムズ
《日本民謡による狂詩曲》／石川亮太
〈エニグマ変奏曲〉より《ニムロッド》／エルガー
《「千と千尋の神隠し」組曲》／久石譲
〈ロデオ〉より《ホー・ダウン》／アーロン・コープランド
Maslanka Hell's Gate with MSU Wind Symphony & Kunitachi Wind Orchestra
David Maslanka - Hell’s Gate for Saxophone Trio and Band
Conductor - Dr. Nathan Stark
Masato Kumoi - Alto Saxophone
Wonki Lee - Tenor Saxophone
Kuninobu Bando - Baritone Saxophone
Montana Choral Artists - Son of God Concert
The Montana Choral Artists chamber choir will perform selections featuring the music of Handel, Allegri and Whitbourn conducted by MSU Professor of Music Jon Harney. This concert will feature MSU Saxophone Professor Wonki Lee on James Whitbourn's jazzy and comtemplative Son of God mass.
Tickets at https://montanachoralartists.com/ OR $20 ($10 students) at the door
Recital "American Sonatas from Two Millennia"
Faculty Recital at Reynolds Recital Hall, featuring the program from American Sonatas from Two Millennia
University of North Texas Masterclass
Presenting a masterclass with University of North Texas Saxophone Studio
University of Texas at Arlington Single Reed Showcase 2026
Guest Artist Recital and Masterclass
The inaugural UTA Single Reed Showcase is taking place on Saturday, January 24th 2026.
Join us for a day of masterclasses, presentations, and performances showcasing the many talented clarinetist and saxophonists from UTA and the DFW metroplex.
The event is free and open to the public.
Presentations and performance are largely invitational, but if you are interested in performing or presenting at the showcase, please email either Dr. Nola Preston (clarinet) at nola.preston@uta.edu or Professor Mike Nguyen (saxophone) at mike.nguyen@uta.edu.
09:30 am: Registration Opens
10:00 am: 1st Showcase
11:00 am: Clarinet Masterclass
12:00 pm: Lunch
01:00 pm: Saxophone Masterclass
02:00 pm: 2nd Showcase
03:00 pm: Featured Guest Recital: Dr. Wonki Lee and Dr. Er-Hsuan Li
Recital Program - American Sonatas from Two Millennia
Robert Muczynski - Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano Op. 29
William Albright - Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano
David Maslanka - Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Madrigal Dinner
Madrigal Dinner
Dec. 7, 2025
The SUB
6:30pm
Tickets will be available for purchase at the Bobcat Ticket Office
Madrigal Dinner
Madrigal Dinner
Dec. 6, 2025
The SUB
6:30pm
Tickets will be available for purchase at the Bobcat Ticket Office
Noël - MSU Choirs and Symphony Orchestra
Noël - MSU Choirs and Symphony Orchestra
Friday, December 5th, Holy Rosary Catholic Church
Two performances: 5:30pm and 7:30pm
Tickets: $25 (all purchases must be made in advance)
University Chorale– Lukas Graf, conductor
Voces Luminis (ssaa) – Kirk Aamot, conductor
Montanans – Kirk Aamot, conductor
MSU Symphony Orchestra – Tobin Stewart, conductor
Three choirs and the Symphony Orchestra of the School of Music at Montana State University will perform the annual Noël Concert on Friday, December 5th. 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, (406) 994-CATS and https://www.montana.edu/brickbreeden/index.html beginning on Friday, November 21st at 10am. The popular holiday concert has been a sold-out event each year. Get your tickets early!
Madrigal Dinner in Big Sky
Madrigal Dinner in Big Sky
Dec. 4, 2025
2:30pm
Tickets available through Arts Council of Big Sky - https://bigskyarts.org/
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.
Montana Chamber Music Society Noon Notes Concert in Livingston
Performing with Dr. Er-Hsuan Li (piano), and Jihye Sung (Violin)
Charles Koechlin - Epitaphe de Jean Harlow, Op. 164 (arr. For violin, alto saxophone, and piano)
Amy Beach - Romance for Violin and Piano, Op. 23
Henri Tomasi - Ballade for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Blake Clawson - Broken Reef for Solo Piano
Jacqueline Hairston - "Great Day" Ode for Solo Piano
Montana Chamber Music Society Noon Notes Concert
Performing with Dr. Er-Hsuan Li (piano), and Jihye Sung (Violin)
Charles Koechlin - Epitaphe de Jean Harlow, Op. 164 (arr. For violin, alto saxophone, and piano)
Amy Beach - Romance for Violin and Piano, Op. 23
Henri Tomasi - Ballade for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Blake Clawson - Broken Reef for Solo Piano
Jacqueline Hairston - "Great Day" Ode for Solo Piano
R. Ishikawa Rhapsody on Japanese Folk Songs for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra
Performing Ryota Ishikawa’s Rhapsody on Japanese Folk Song for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra with MSU Symphony Orchestra conduced by Dr. Tobin Stewart.
MMEA Conference Clinic
MMEA Conference 2025
October 16-17, 2025
Guest Clinician
The Montana Music Educators Association Conference will be held in Great Falls at Great Falls High School
Montana State University Fall Choral Concert
2025 Fall Choral Concert
The choirs at Montana State University will give their first performance of the 2025-2026 season on Tuesday, October 15 in Reynolds Recital Hall beginning at 7:30PM. The program will include a wide variety of choral favorites by Montana State’s four choral ensembles. Tickets are available online and at the door, $15 general admission, $5 students, PreK-12 free.
Online tickets: https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/msumusic/7078/event/1438012
University Tenor Bass Chorus will perform “I’m Building Me a Home” by acclaimed composer Anthony Trecek-King. Chorale will sing music by German composer Alwin Michael Schronen and American composer Z. Randall Stroope. Voces Luminis will sing a beautiful arrangement of “Amazing Grace” by Ron Jeffers and Montanans will perform a new work by Swedish composer, Agneta Sköld.
With their fall concert, the choirs at Montana State kick off another exciting year that will include their annual Noël Concert with the MSU Symphony Orchestra at Holy Rosary Church on December 5th. Montanans and Voces Luminis will perform their Madrigal Dinner in Big Sky on December 4th and in the Strand Union Ballrooms on December 6th and 7th. Tickets for these events will be available through the Bobcat Ticket Office in November.
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.
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.
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.
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