Saxophonist Andy Wen in OSU Guest Artist Series

Thursday, January 16, 2014

 Free recital Tues. Jan. 21

Called “one of the world’s best saxophonists,” Dr. Andy Wen will present a free solo recital as the first featured guest to appear in this semester’s Oklahoma State University Guest Artist Series on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 7:30 p.m. in the Seretean Center Concert Hall.

“Andy’s program will include works with integrated electronic sounds as well as two saxophone duets, for which I will be performing with him,” said Dr. Jeffrey Loeffert, assistant professor of saxophone and theory at OSU. “Much of the program includes works that Andy commissioned and premiered.”

Wen, an associate professor of saxophone, clarinet and theory at the University of Arkansas Little Rock, is a founding member of the Arkansas Saxophone Quartet and plays principle alto saxophone in the Little Rock Wind Symphony. He has performed in twenty-three states and Canada as well as oversees in Belgium, China, France, Japan, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan and Thailand.

Following a recent performance by Wen in Georgia, one critic wrote: “He (Wen) touched all bases in a professional saxophone performance:  long lyrical passages filled with beautiful resonant tone; control of phrasal entrances and exits with eloquent finesse at all dynamic levels; articulations and bravura passages that were exciting and convincing; and a general subordination of technique to the point of speaking freely and musically through the instrument.”

Wen released a classical/contemporary album titled “Apparitions” in 2012. Click here to listen to excerpts. For more on Wen, go to http://ualr.edu/music/index.php/home/faculty/andy-wen/

Guest artists in the series are invited to campus to perform by their counterparts at OSU. This performance is sponsored by the OSU Department of Music and admission is free and open to the public.