Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet visits YSU

Members of The Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet

The Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University presents the Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet in concert 7:30 p.m. Monday, February 12 at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Wick Ave. The concert is free and open to the public.

The Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet is comprised of musicians from Cyprus, Italy and the United States. The quartet offers innovative programming with works that combine elements from classical, jazz, rock, ethnic and world music. Dedicated to promoting and developing the saxophone repertoire, the quartet often collaborates with Greek, Cypriot, Italian and American composers.

Winners of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and the Music Teachers National Association Collegiate Chamber Music Competition, TSQ has appeared throughout Europe and North America. They have performed in music festivals such as the Ravenna Festival in Italy; World Saxophone Conferences in Valencia, Spain and Montreal, Canada; at numerous universities and conservatories; and in a diverse array of community venues.

Members of the quartet have played valuable roles in the field of classical saxophone as winners in international music competitions, as composers and as saxophone professors at universities and conservatories in Europe and the USA.

YSU Dana Alumnus Russell Peterson '91, BM in Music Performance, is the soprano player in the group. Tenor saxophonist Carrie Koffman joined the group in 2014. The alto saxophonist, Italian Marco Albonetti, is a Professor of Saxophone at the Music Conservatory of Bari, Italy. Yiannis Miralis, from Cyprus, is the tenor player.

A Masterclass with YSU saxophone students will be taught by members of the quartet prior to the concert.