June 2022: Congratulations to saxophonist and Music Education major Chaitravi Kulkarni! She was recently awarded a scholarship through the Solomon and Lent Family Fund in Experiential Learning in Music that will enable her to continue her community music teaching at El Sistema Aeolian.
April 2022: Congratulations to saxophonist and Music Recording Arts (MRA) student Nicholas (Nick) De Souza who was honoured at the 10th annual International Portuguese Music Awards (IPMA) as winner of Best Hip Hop/Rap Performance for his song Light Show. Read more about his award
November 2021: A huge congratulations to Chase Griffin, Paula Kokot, Lexi Graham, and Alessandro Calicchia, who are this year’s Young-Ja Park Chamber Music Award Winners! The winners of this award are recognized as members of the most promising chamber music group, and exemplify excellence in performance and collaborative work throughout the fall term.
May 2021: Congratulations to undergraduate student Alessandro Calicchia, who was recently recognized with a third-place prize at the International Music Competition Opus 2021. The second-year saxophonist performed Paul Creston’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra, Op. 26. He was assessed by a jury with fellow musicians in his age range (born 2001-05) and finished in the top third of his category. Calicchia was accompanied by Dr. Caleb Mora in his recorded submission and notes his collaborator was instrumental in his success. This annual competition, established in 2019, is hosted by Life and Art Foundation in Krakow, Poland. The competition is open to young musicians (up to 35 years old) of select instruments of all nationalities.
February 2021: Congratulations to second-year saxophonists Lexi Graham and Alessandro Calicchia! They were selected to perform with their collaborative pianist, Dr. Caleb Mora, for the North American Saxophone Alliance’s Region 10 Conference’s first session held virtually yesterday at McGill University. Thank you to Dr. James Kalyn, our regional director, and to Prof. Marie-Chantal Leclair, who hosted a wonderful masterclass and outstanding studio performances!
October 2020: Congratulations to fourth-year studio member Nicholas De Souza who was a $5000 prize winner in The LusoLife Beat Series organized by Luso Life and MDC Media. Nicholas studies in our Music Recording Arts (MRA) program and will use this award to negotiate a recording contract with MDC Media and further his music career!
February 2020: Congratulations to first-year saxophonist Alessandro Calicchia who was selected to perform the Concerto in E-flat Major, op. 109, by A. Glazunov and Tableaux de Provence by P. Maurice as part of the Visual and Performing Arts Newmarket’s Young Artists’ Showcase!
August 2019: Congratulations to Western saxophonists Jessica Puskar and Devin Howe! Jessica and Devin were both selected as Faculty Assistants for the Concert and Symphonic Bands at Camp Manitou’s Interprovincial Music Camp.
February 2019: Congratulations to saxophonists Ryan Markwart, Jonathan Bouchard, and Devin Howe on their 2019 NASA Region 10 masterclass performances with guest artists Prof. Joseph Lulloff and Dr. Andrew Bishop!
January 2019: The saxophone studio at Western University is proud to be hosting the North American Saxophone Alliance’s 2019 Region 10 Conference, February 22-24, 2019! Guest artists include Prof. Joseph Lulloff (Michigan State) and Dr. Andrew Bishop (UMichigan). For more information about becoming a NASA member and to register for the conference, please visit the NASA Membership page.
July 2018: Western University saxophone alumnus Lance Corporal Andy Braet (Band of the Irish Guards), a member of the Household Division Saxophone Quartet, premiered a new work for saxophone quartet with his colleagues by British composer Adam Gorb at the World Saxophone Congress in Zagreb, Croatia. The quartet are the first ever British Military group to perform at the congress!
May 2018: A huge congratulations to Western University saxophone alumna Dr. Jennifer Blackwell on her recent appointment to the Music Education faculty at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa! http://manoa.hawaii.edu/music/the-uh-manoa-music-department-welcomes-dr-jennifer-blackwell-to-music-education-faculty/
January 2018: Proud to announce that Western University saxophone alumnus Lance Corporal Andy Braet (Band of the Irish Guards) will be performing the Glazunov Concerto with The Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra on February 27. Congratulations, Andy! https://www.facebook.com/events/1837106049697119/
November 2017: Congratulations to Western University saxophone alumnus Robert Hess. Robert was named winner of the Kansas MTNA solo competition and will be heading to Iowa City in January to compete at regionals! He is currently completing his MMus at Wichita State University with Dr. Geoffrey Deibel. Way to go, Rob! https://www.facebook.com/westernuSaxophone/?ref=bookmarks
September 2017: Congratulations to Ben Luelo who was selected as a saxophonist for the Ontario Provincial Honour Band! Ben is a student of Mr. Josh Geddis at St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School in Clinton, Ontario. http://www.clintonnewsrecord.com/2017/09/28/st-annes-saxophonist-receives-recognition-from-province-as-top-talent
July 2017: Here is a Canada 150 greeting, featuring Western University saxophone alumnus, Matthew Henry, who serves in the Stadacona Band of the Royal Canadian Navy! https://www.facebook.com/CanadianForces/videos/2091165164444008/?fref=mentions
March 2017: Read about Western University saxophone alumna Sarah Robertson’s travels to Europe as a saxophonist in the Canadian Forces La Musique du Royal 22e Régiment. http://thesarniajournal.ca/camlachie-musician-headed-to-vimy-ceremonies-in-france/
Bobbi Thompson 