FAYETTEVILLE, Ark – The University of Arkansas Department of Music will host the North American Saxophone Alliance Region 4 Conference March 14-17.

The event will include over 130 individual events, including recitals, master classes and research sessions, and feature concerts with guest artists from the region. More than 400 saxophonists from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, the United Kingdom and Japan are expected to attend.

"Hosting this conference is a great opportunity for the University of Arkansas Department of Music to gain a more global reputation," said Eric Troiano, instructor of saxophone. "We can showcase the incredible artistry and musicianship of our entire department, as well as our outstanding saxophone studio. This conference has never been hosted in the state of Arkansas before, and I am excited that I have the opportunity to host is here first."

Featured performers at the conference will include Andrew Allen, Christopher Barrick, Gillian Blair, Nathan Mertens, Jonathan Nichol, Stephen Page, Tommy Poole, Sarah Roberts, Joseph Rulli, Matthew Tracy and Jessica Voigt, as well as Eric Troiano.

As the host institution, the University of Arkansas ensembles will present the evening feature concerts.

The featured ensembles will include the University of Arkansas Saxophone Ensemble, under the direction of Troiano; University of Arkansas Wind Symphony, under the direction of Benjamin Lorenzo; and the University of Arkansas Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Christopher Knighten.

Other feature performances will be given by the Fayetteville Jazz Collective, comprised of University of Arkansas alumni, and the NASA Region 4 Saxophone Orchestra.

All concerts will be held on campus in the Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center. The concert schedule is as follows:

• Thursday, March 14, 7:30 p.m. — Saxophone Ensemble & Wind Symphony 
• Friday, March 15, 7:30 p.m. — Saxophone Ensemble & Wind Ensemble 
• Saturday, March 16, 7:30 p.m. — Fayetteville Jazz Collective 
• Sunday, March 17, 1 p.m. — NASA Region 4 Saxophone Orchestra

The conference will include performances from many soloists, chamber groups and saxophone ensembles from across the region. There will also be master classes taught by guests including Brett Kirby, Jeffrey Loeffert, Jonathan Nichol, Joseph Rulli, Zachary Shemon, Masahito Sugihara and Matthew Tracy.

Tickets for the evening concerts are free and open to the public, and are available at the door. 

A full schedule of conference events and concerts is available at the NASA Region 4 website.