Performer Details
Performer Bio Synopsis
Since joining The University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music faculty in 2014, Dr. Stephen C. Page, Assistant Professor of Saxophone, has enthusiastically directed the Saxophone Ensemble in performances at events such as the North American Saxophone Alliance and the Texas Music Educators Association Conference.
Initially formed under the direction of Professor Emeritus Harvey Pittel, The University of Texas Saxophone Ensemble has enjoyed many successes, and acclaimed performances. The ensemble’s three releases, “Over the Rainbow and Bach Again”, “TexSax Next Generation”, and “TexSax” can be heard on Naxos and Mark record labels.
Comprised of all saxophone majors within the University, both graduate and undergraduate, the ensemble incorporates the major voices of the instrumental family, from Bass to Soprano. Performing without conductor and often from memory, the ensemble regularly performs original works by both established and emerging composers and arrangements by the ensemble’s own members.
For more information, please visit www.saxophone.music.utexas.edu
The University of Texas Butler School of Music Saxophone Ensemble
Conductor's Bio
Described by noted American composer Libby Larsen as “fearless on stage,” saxophonist Stephen Page has garnered international prominence as one of the leading saxophonists of today’s younger generation
Dr. Page has appeared across four continents, in the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, Australia, and across the United States. Well known for his interpretations of the great original works for saxophone, Stephen has also gained acclaim for his innovative arrangements and performances of the violin repertoire, including Sonatas by Faure, Grieg, Franck, Prokofiev, and Bach. He has also furthered the saxophone repertoire through the commissioning of new works from composers such as John Mackey, David Maslanka, Dan Welcher, David Rakowski, Ida Gotkovsky, David Canfield, Greg Wanamaker, and Mark Mellits, among others.
Stephen has won no fewer than ten international and national competitions, including 1st Prizes at the North American Saxophone Alliance Solo Competition, Music Teachers National Association Chamber Music Competition, AUREC Saxophone Competition and the Yamaha Young Performing Artist Competition. Additionally, he has been awarded 2nd Prize in the North American Saxophone Alliance Quartet Competition (2008 and 2010), the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition, and a Silver Medal at the prestigious Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.
As the Alto Saxophone chair of the critically acclaimed Zzyzx Quartet, Stephen has appeared internationally in venues both public and academic. Zzyzx has been featured at the North American Saxophone Alliance, and at meetings of the World Saxophone Congress in St. Andrews, Scotland and in Strasbourg, France. Zzyzx recently serve on the panel for the prestigious Barlow Endowment Prize as one of three internationally recognized quartets, and premiered the winning composer’s new composition in 2016. Their two recordings, "Zzyzx Rd." and "Intersections" have been met with great acclaim, covering standard works in the quartet repertoire, as well as the group's own arrangements, and commissions from composers such as John Mackey and John Leszczynski.
Dr. Page has been an active recording artist since producing his first CD at the age of 21. Since that time, he has released nine additional recordings as a soloist and chamber musician, which can be heard on the Enharmonic, Teal Creek, Enharmonic Music, and AUR Labels. Three forthcoming CD releases in 2018 include "The Saxophone Music of Florent Schmitt", "light and shadows, waves and time" (the music of Gregory Wanamaker), and the premier recording of John Mackey’s Soprano Saxophone Concerto with piano reduction.
Currently residing in Texas and teaching at the Butler School of Music within The University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Page has earned degrees from the University of Minnesota, the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and the University of Iowa, having studied under Eugene Rousseau, Otis Murphy and Kenneth Tse, respectively.
Stephen Page is a Yamaha Performing Artist and D’Addario Artist and Musician Advisor.
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