University of Wisconsin-Madison Saxophone Studio

Studio member Hannah Gardner representing the University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music at the Brevard Music Center Summer Saxophone Institute. Go Badgers!

Go junior Badger Hannah Gardner!

Celebrating an exciting week of juries and recitals, lakeside! Congrats to these Badgers on a year to remember!

Tonight at 7:30 PM CST! Join Mead Witter School of Music saxophonists for an evening of soloists and chamber music, including the UW–Madison Saxophone Ensemble's debut!

Saxophone Studio Recital Support the Mead Witter School of Music here: https://www.supportuw.org/giveto/schoolofmusicSubscribe to stay up to date with our content: https://www.youtub...

We are pleased to welcome incoming DMA student Andrew MacRossie to the studio in fall 2022! Andrew is the first saxophonist in University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music history to receive the Paul J. Collins Distinguished Fellowship, a generous award presented to the two most outstanding graduate applicants of the School of Music audition season.

Congratulations, Andrew and On, Wisconsin!

Home : Mending Wall PRISM Quartet, soprano Tony Arnold, and pianist Arturo O’Farrill perform world premieres by composers Martin Bresnick, George Lewis, Juri Seo, and O’Farrill

Wisconsin high school juniors! Saxophonists who attend the 2022 UW-Madison Summer Music Clinic are eligible to audition for 1 of 10 FULL-TUITION college scholarships. Students work with Prof. Matthew Koester and other University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music faculty. Sign up soon!

https://precollege.wisc.edu/smc/tuition-waiver/

Congratulations to our bassoon colleague Tiffany Coolidge on a wonderful DMA recital! Studio member and TA Max Moeck (MM ‘23) joined for a thrilling reed quintet arrangement of Gershwin’s American in Paris. Bravo to all!

It's concerto competition season at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music! Bravo to our graduate quartet for their performance of Philip Glass' Saxophone Quartet Concerto in today's preliminary round!

Graduate saxophone applicants are automatically eligible for Teaching Assistantships and Fellowships at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music. Interested in one of our MM or DMA programs? Get your application in by December 1st for full consideration!

https://music.wisc.edu/graduate-admissions

Attention high school and college saxophonists! The University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music is accepting applications for Fall 2022 study! Receive a world-class music education in America’s No. 1 college town! More information for prospective undergrad and graduate students can be found here:

https://music.wisc.edu/undergraduate-admissions
https://music.wisc.edu/graduate-admissions

Note that auditions will be held virtually, and applicants are asked to submit a video recording of the requirements. Degrees offered include the BM in Performance, BME in Music Education, BA in Music, MM in Performance, MM in Music Education, and the DMA in Performance.

Prospective graduate students are eligible for our Teaching Assistantships and Fellowships, each offering a full tuition waiver, generous stipend, and UW-Madison health benefits. Apply by December 1st for full consideration.

Reach out today for a trial lesson! We'd love to meet you!

Live music is back at the Hamel Music Center and just getting started! Bravo to director Scott Teeple and the UW-Madison Wind Ensemble on a wonderful 2021/22 debut!

Please enjoy a recent discovery of saxophone and Madison history! In 1971, Fred Hemke (DMA ’75) and our own UW-Madison Wind Ensemble gave this impassioned performance of Ingolf Dahl’s Saxophone Concerto under the baton of H. Robert Reynolds (Director of Bands, 1968-75).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Uj1fHUYX8E

Frederick Hemke Dahl Saxophone Concerto University of Wisconsin - Madison Wind Ensemble 1971/1972 SeasonH. Robert Reynolds, conductorFrederick Hemke, saxophone soloist Concerto for Saxophone and Wi...

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MUSIC EDUCATION at UW–Madison Find jobs at University of Wisconsin–Madison

The University of Wisconsin @ Madison has a new Professor of Saxophone, Matthew Koester… congratulations Matt!
Matt is ABD with his pending Doctorate from The University of Michigan and hopes to complete his work before the end of this school year.
We have been fortunate to work with Matt during the past several years during which he was a masters and doctoral saxophone performance major in Dr. Timothy McAllister’s studio. Matt is originally from New Mexico where he earned his undergraduate degree at The University of New Mexico studying with Dr. Eric Lau (who himself completed his Doctoral studies at Michigan State University with Joe Lulloff)
Matt was in today to have Bird ( Eric Wistreich ) perform a parting checkup to a few of his instruments prior to his relocating. We will miss seeing Matt in the shop as a U of M student and wish him great success in his new position.
I should ad that tomorrow the University of Michigan Aero Saxophone Quartet departs on their post Fischoff Competition tour, they were most recently Gold Medal Winners in the Senior Wind Division. Besides Matt on tenor, other members of the quartet are Salvador Flores, soprano, Walt Puyear, alto and Brian Kachur, baritone. Travel safe guys !

Join us!

https://www.cutmaps.com/blogs/the-journal/5-of-the-best-college-towns-in-the-u-s?fbclid=IwAR3B4qCV3motlbZOPEEBEvyzpyBivNIy4TCY2b8T2W29SddEfsBW1X6obIQ

5 of The Best College Towns In The U.S. America has nearly four thousand four-year universities spread out from coast to coast. That can make selecting the top college towns a tall order. Undeterred, we give it a shot! 5) Boston, MA Boston may take a few by surprise here. However, it is home to dozens of degree-granting institutions that....

University of Wisconsin-Madison Saxophone Studio updated their business hours.

And let's also celebrate Jacob Brost who graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education! Jacob shared with us what's next as well as a bit of his experience here at UW-Madison:

What's Next?: I will be teaching elementary general music in the Sun Prairie School District at Creekside Elementary starting in August. I’m excited to take the experiences I’ve had at UW to provide my students an equitable, inclusive, and progressive music education!

Sax Studio Experience: I am so thankful for my time in the saxophone studio. Professor Quarles has improved my saxophone playing and music making by focusing on the intentionality behind my decision making and musical choices. I think this idea of intentionality will be beneficial when making curricular decisions for my students. I also appreciated the family like atmosphere of our studio and how supportive everyone was of each other. I hope to foster a similar environment in my classroom!

Let's celebrate Karen Hayes who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Biology! Karen shared with us what's next and a few thoughts about her experience here in our studio:

What's Next?: I will be attending Rutgers University-Newark in the fall to obtain my Master's in Biomedical Sciences while simultaneously applying for dental school for the 2022 application cycle.

Sax Studio Experience: Coming to college, I was excited to start a new chapter in my musical studies, and I knew double majoring would be the best way to fully engage with the music department at UW. I never would have expected that the saxophone studio would help me make so many connections. Through the UW-Sax studio, I met one of my closest friends, Jacob along with many others. Professor Quarles has worked so hard to create an inviting and supportive studio, and because of him I have grown so much as a musician. I can’t wait to see how the studio will continue to grow!

This past weekend, we celebrated the graduation of two of our incredible saxophone students: Jacob Brost and Karen Hayes! Over the next two days, we'll share more about Jacob and Karen and their post-graduation plans, but for now, let's congratulate them on their achievement!

Catch Prof. Quarles and ~Nois virtually TONIGHT on the CU Boulder College of Music Pendulum New Music series!

This Saturday for FREE! Join us as we partner with Dr. Nicki Roman and the The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Saxophone Studio for the Wisconsin Saxophone Clinic! This FREE day of learning for grades 6-12 will feature guest artists Kenneth Tse and Casey Dierlam Tse in an incredible recital along with group lessons, a roundtable discussion, and a prize drawing! There's still time to register, so head on over to our website at the link below to sign up and take your saxophone playing to the next level.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgSvFAIXXKI&pbjreload=101

https://uwm.edu/arts/outreach-events/wisconsin-saxophone-clinic/?fbclid=IwAR0e50KBeZZ1_2khkR5il3SYObHlaMfGV1Q8B7qAeM6qZJv1Dbw3BU0mlJY

2021 Wisconsin Saxophone Clinic The Wisconsin Saxophone Clinic (WiSC) aims to empower and inspire pre-college saxophonists to pursue musical and professional excellence through an accessibl...

We’re really excited to have Prof. Gabriel Piqué of Baldwin Wallace University as a guest in our studio class today! Prof. Piqué’s career spans multiple genres and projects, including Fuego Quartet and The Moanin' Frogs, and we can’t wait to hear about how it all comes together for a fulfilling musical life.

We love our Badger Band: The University of Wisconsin Marching Band Director Dr. Corey Pompey (bonus points for being a saxophonist)! Start off your week with this great interview to learn more about Dr. Pompey!

https://www.wpr.org/shows/uw-marching-band-director-shares-his-music-journey?fbclid=IwAR2VfR7QzNavxIrLyiN5OZ3Kr5GyN3y2WeQjioh0n7Ab4ckwyqeihfoKVU8

UW Marching Band Director Shares His Music Journey UW-Madison's associate director of bands joins us to talk about his musical influences over the years, from popular R&B to classical music favorites.

We love our new University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music Hamel Music Center and we want you to have the incredible experience of playing here! High School students have until January 31st to apply! Click on the link below to start your journey to becoming a Badger!

https://www.music.wisc.edu/apply/

We’re so excited to be collaborating with Dr. Nicki Roman and the The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Saxophone Studio to present the Wisconsin Saxophone Clinic (WiSC) on February 20th. Register for FREE today to work with Dr. Roman, our own Prof. Quarles, and our guest artist Dr. Kenneth Tse!

https://uwm.edu/arts/outreach-events/wisconsin-saxophone-clinic/

Pre-college saxophonists! Prof. Quarles and Dr. Nicki Roman of the The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Saxophone Studio are launching a new program today called the Wisconsin Saxophone Clinic (or WiSC, for short)! This is a FREE event that this year will take place on Zoom on February 20, 2021. At WiSC, participants will learn from professional saxophonists at the forefront of the field, gaining valuable insights on everything from smart, efficient practice to how to have a successful audition for collegiate programs.

Our guest artists this year will be Dr. Kenneth Tak Kei Tse and Casey Dierlam Tse who will present an incredible and exclusive recital for our participants.

Visit our website below for more information and to sign up. It takes no time to register and did we mention that everything is FREE? If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Prof. Quarles.

If you want to take your saxophone playing to the next level, WiSC is the place to be!

https://uwm.edu/arts/outreach-events/wisconsin-saxophone-clinic/?fbclid=IwAR0zJ3nFGfmjMLNwvCAD2PnlyW16bFbjYowQLT7Y_l7LejEA8QY0JcfUFNQ

We are so proud of studio member Alaina Dabson who will be graduating this weekend with her undergraduate degree in music education! We can't wait to see what great things you do out there in the world. Alaina shared with us some of her favorite things about UW-Madison here below. On, Wisconsin!

Hometown: Maple Grove, Minnesota
High School: Maple Grove Senior High

What was your favorite thing about attending UW-Madison?
The love and support from all my classmates in the School of Music! And game days of course!!

Where is your favorite place in Madison?
The Union Terrace :)

Why is music important to you?
It allows me to focus my energy on something that brings me joy. Music has allowed me to express emotions that can’t be expressed through words.

What do you like to do outside of music?
Biking, interior designing my future homes (in my brain, of course), and thrifting!!

What do you enjoy about studying saxophone here at UW-Madison?
The studio is so supportive and our professor, Prof. Quarles, gives us the best environment to thrive and succeed!!

Any words of wisdom to the students interested in applying to our program?
DO IT!! You won’t get a better teacher than Prof. Quarles :)

Today we celebrate a recent alumnus of our program: Ross Wolf! Ross graduated in 2020 with his MM in Wind Conducting and is now the band director at Spring Lake Park High School in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota. Here's what Ross has to say about his time in the UW-Madison Classical Saxophone Studio:

"I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to study saxophone at UW Madison. Some of my fondest memories revolve around lessons and rehearsing together with our saxophone quartet while I was pursuing my Conducting degree. Good luck to all those saxophone players out there! On, Wisconsin!"

We're so proud of you Ross!

Graduate students! Bucky wants you to know that December 1 is the deadline to apply to University of Wisconsin - Madison Mead Witter School of Music. There’s no pre-screening this year and all auditions will be held online, so it’s easier than ever to apply. Come and join us here in beautiful Madison to take your playing and musicianship to the next level (and eat a lot of cheese...)!

The University of Wisconsin - Madison Mead Witter School of Music offers two types of funding opportunities for graduate students: Teaching Assistantships and Fellowships. Check out these fantastic opportunities and get your application in by the deadline of December 1! We hope you'll apply to join our Badger Family!

The Heiden Sonata is a wonderful piece of our standard repertoire and is an excellent choice for college auditions. Check out Prof. Quarles performing the piece with the fabulous pianist Er-Hsuan Li. Don’t forget to get in your application and to contact Prof. Quarles for a free prospective lesson!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IhV1sRRX6dc

Heiden: Sonata (Brandon Quarles, saxophone and Er-Hsuan Li, piano)

Last but not least, let's hear from first year master's student, Sean Garde!

Hometown: Portland, Maine

Where did you receive your undergraduate degree?
UW-Platteville

What made you want to attend UW-Madison?
The opportunity to work with world class faculty such as Brandon Quarles, Scott Teeple and Marc Vallon.

Where is your favorite place in Madison?
The Madison Masonic Center

Why is music important to you?
Music is never boring and it's something you constantly have to work to maintain and improve. As Marcel Mule said “On n’arrive jamais” (One never arrives).

What do you like to do outside of music?
I enjoy physical exercise, learning languages, video games and spending time with my fraternity brothers.

What excites you about studying saxophone here at UW-Madison?
Professor Quarles is a young ambitious performer and teacher and I'm looking forward to having that constant push to improve.

What would you say to someone who is thinking of applying to study saxophone/music here at UW-Madison?
Stop reading this on Facebook and email Prof Quarles. Right now!

Any other fun things we should know about you?
I am proud to serve in the 132D Army Band and on the Wisconsin Military Funeral Honors program.

Thanks, Sean!

Let's get to know senior Music Education major Jacob Brost!

Hometown: Portage, WI

High School: Portage High School

What is your favorite thing about attending UW-Madison?
I love lots about attending UW! Madison is a great city with a perfect blend of city-life and nature. I love the Memorial Union Terrace. I think the people I have met here, especially through my music education program, are the best.

Why is music important to you?
Music is important to me because it is quintessential to the human experience. Music helps us connect with others, express ourselves, and have a good time. Music is political and powerful. Music to me is all about creating community and I think it is an important tool in making connections with fellow humans.

What do you like to do outside of music?
Some things I enjoy outside of music include hanging out with friends, exercising, video games, drinking tea, and going for bike rides.

What do you enjoy about studying the saxophone here at UW-Madison?
I think my favorite moments in studying saxophone would be moments with my saxophone quartet. Quartet has really helped developed my musicianship because it forces you to really be "in tune" (both literally and figuratively) with the other members of the ensemble. Lessons with Professor Quarles have also been another favorite of mine. They have really helped me realize how to convey specific musical ideas expressively and how to have conviction in my playing.

What advice do you have for a student thinking of applying to study music and saxophone at UW-Madison?
Go for it! There are lots of opportunities to be involved with classical chamber groups, jazz groups, and wind ensembles. We have a very progressive music education department, led by the outstanding Professor Dobbs. I have made lots of progress on the saxophone under Professor Quarles. UW also just opened a new music building which is beautiful.

Any other fun things we should know about you?
I'm a triplet! I have three dogs that I miss very much while I am in Madison. I'm also very excited to be student teaching next semester at Thoreau Elementary and Mt. Horeb High School.

Thanks for sharing, Jacob!

Karen Hayes is a senior from Waterloo, WI double majoring in saxophone performance and biology! Let's hear what she has to say about her experience here at the University of Wisconsin - Madison Mead Witter School of Music:

Where did you go to high school?
Waterloo High School

What is your favorite thing about attending UW-Madison?
UW-Madison has allowed me to make friends with a diverse array of people that I hope to stay in contact with after graduating from undergrad.

Where is your favorite place in Madison?
State Street or Memorial Union!

Why is music important to you?
Music is important to me because it allows me to feel and elicit so many emotions. I am able to forge a personal relationship with music, but I am also able to be a part of someone else's musical/musical listening journey, and to me that is very powerful.

What do you like to do outside of music?
Outside of music, I like studying science! I am double majoring in music and biology on the pre-dental track. I also like cooking and baking and hanging out with friends.

What do you enjoy about studying saxophone here at UW-Madison?
I really enjoy the relationships I have built with my colleagues, and I really like studying under Professor Quarles!

What would you say to someone who is thinking of applying to study saxophone/music here at UW-Madison?
One advantage of studying at the Mead Witter School of Music is that it is part of a world class educational institution.

Thanks for sharing, Karen!

We're so excited to welcome first-year student Isaiah Lucré to the studio! Learn a little bit about him below!

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

What high school did you attend?
Brown Deer High School

What made you want to attend UW-Madison?
I really enjoy the atmosphere around the campus.

Favorite place in Madison?
Memorial Terrace!

Why is music important to you?
Music allows people to express themselves and communicate with others.

What do you like to do outside of music?
I enjoy playing video games and a variety of sports such as baseball and tennis.

What excites you about studying the saxophone at UW-Madison?
I am very excited to be part of a new, up-and-coming studio program and hope to be part of the first group of students going through the studio.

Any other fun things we should know about you?
My first instrument was the violin!

Thanks, Isaiah! We're excited to have you with us!

Find out more about this fantastic opportunity for all intersectionalities of women and gender non-conforming members of the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) from the Committee on the Status of Women: North American Saxophone Alliance! The deadline to apply is September 18.

Mentoring Program NASA CSW