Saxophone Quartet Performs at State Honors Recital
The Fairmont State University Saxophone Quartet was accepted to perform four selections on Friday, March 25, at the state West Virginia Collegiate Music Educators Association Honors Recital during the WVMEA Conference at Marshall University in Huntington.
All four selections were recorded for blind auditions, and all four pieces were accepted by a panel of judges. The members of the Saxophone Quartet are Jay Leeper of Fairmont (soprano and alto saxophones); Trey Hefner of Belgium, W.Va. (alto saxophone); Mike Lopez, of Fairmont (tenor saxophone); and Rachel McIntire of Enterprise (baritone saxophone).
“Early during the first semester of this (2010-2011) school year, the quartet was reorganized under the ‘advanced wind ensembles’ course heading. After just a few rehearsals, I could tell the quartet had great potential, and I decided we should set some goals,” said Director Randall Hall, an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Music of the School of Fine Arts.
“The first goal was to present a full-length concert in the campus Wallman Hall Theatre. This event took place on December 6, 2010, at which time the quartet performed admirably – even though the group covered numerous musical styles.
“The second goal was to represent Fairmont State University by performing for music students in some of the high schools. To date, we have performed for four different high school bands in the area. These performances have been received very well.
“The third goal was to submit recordings for blind auditions to a panel of judges who would select winners to perform at the Honors Recital during the WV Music Educators Association Conference at Marshall University on March 25. Our hope was that at least one of our pieces would be accepted. As it happened, all four selections submitted by FSU students were accepted. And so it is that the FSU Saxophone Quartet will be one of only three groups from the entire state of West Virginia to perform at the Honors Recital, and they will be performing four pieces.”
MusicSchool of Fine ArtsJay LeeperMike LopezTrey HefnerRachel McIntireRandall Hall
