FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The North American Saxophone Alliance Region 4 Conference, hosted by the Department of Music, will include four feature concert performances from March 14-17 at the Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center.

The schedule includes:

• 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

All concerts are free of charge and open to the public. Tickets will be available at the door.

The keynote concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 15, will feature the Saxophone Ensemble and Wind Ensemble. The Saxophone Ensemble, under the direction of Eric Troiano, will collaborate with the Owasso High School Saxophone Ensemble from Owasso, Oklahoma, for the first half of the program.

They will perform two pieces: Radiant Joy by Steven Bryant, and From Star Stuff by Kyle Landry. From Star Stuff is a world premiere of a piece that was commissioned by the two saxophone ensembles for this conference in order to enhance music for saxophone ensembles at the high school and collegiate levels. 

The Wind Ensemble will perform the second half of the program, featuring two concerto soloists. The first piece is In the First Spinning Place by Hilary Tann featuring saxophonist Stephen Page, associate professor of saxophone at the University of Texas at Austin. The second piece is Möbius Trip by James Stephenson featuring U of A Department of Music faculty Eric Troiano, instructor of saxophone.

The University of Arkansas Wind Ensemble and Troiano were members of the consortium to commission the Stephenson concerto, with Troiano giving the Arkansas premiere of the piece.  

"I am excited to have so many new pieces of the saxophone repertoire being premiered at the conference," Troiano said. "Having the Owasso Saxophone Ensemble with us to premiere Kyle Landry's piece is a great time for all students to interact and learn from each other. And the Stephenson concerto is a great addition to our repertoire that is sure to become a standard piece for all saxophonists."

Conference attendees will include current U of A saxophone students, regional saxophone students, regional saxophone teachers and professors, and prospective undergraduate and graduate students.