NDSU Saxophone quartet places third in national competition
NDSU has been recognized because of four talented music students: Brian Wittkop, Emily Bair, Jessy Klimpel and Matthew Salzer, members of the NDSU Saxophone Quartet.
Under the direction of Matthew Patnode, assistant professor of saxophone and jazz studies, the quartet placed third in the Music Teacher’s National Association Collegiate Chamber Music Competition in Austin, Texas. NDSU competed against colleges from Indiana, New York, Tennessee, Idaho, Oklahoma and Utah.
“ This group of students is successful because of the fact that they are all crossover players,” Patnode said. “They can play jazz or classical. They are a very versatile group.”
“ People would be interested in this type of concert because it is a lot of music people probably haven’t heard before,” Wittkop, senior soprano saxophonist, said.
The Saxophone Quartet from Eastman School of Music took first place in the competition. Second place went to the woodwind sextet from Boise State University. Eastman School of Music is ranked among the top five music schools in the United States.
Even when placed against top competitors from around the nation, the saxophone quartet didn’t worry about the other groups or even their fellow quartet members.
“ I don’t have to worry about them; I worry about myself messing up,” Bair, senior alto saxophonist, said.
The group performed a 35-minute program for the competition.
“ The hardest part about staying focused for the competition is that we play the same thing over and over,” Salzer, sophomore baritone saxophonist, said.
“ Being in a quartet is hard work. (It) takes a lot of motivation and can be very time-consuming,” Jessy Klimpel, senior tenor saxophonist, said. “But in the end, it is all worth it.”
The group will have a recital at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Beckwith Recital Hall.