Saxophone virtuoso to perform in livestream concert
The Rocky River Chamber Music Society will host a virtual concert by Steven Banks, saxophone virtuoso, and Xak Bjerken, pianist, in the outstanding acoustical environment of West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church. The audience will be at home viewing and listening to the concert on either Facebook Live or YouTube. Access to the concert will be available by using one of the following links shortly before the beginning of the concert on Monday, Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m.: bit.ly/RRCMS_Facebook or bit.ly/RRCMS_YouTube.
Since the saxophone is rarely heard as a solo concert instrument, Mr. Banks and Mr. Bjerken will perform works by Mozart and Schumann that modern artists have arranged specifically for saxophone. In addition, Banks and Bjerken will play works created directly for saxophone by composers Carlos Simon, Saad Haddad and Steven Banks.
Recognized for his “glowing mahogany tones” and “breathtaking performances,” Steven Banks captured first prize at the 2019 Young Concert Artists International Auditions. He has performed with symphony orchestras across the United States, including The Cleveland Orchestra, under such conductors as Franz Welser-Möst and Jahja Ling. Currently Steven Banks serves as assistant professor of saxophone at Ithaca College. Xak Bjerken, professor of piano at Cornell University, has performed on stages in the United States, Europe and Asia, and has recorded for Chandos and Albany Records.
The Rocky River Chamber Music Society presents concerts at no cost for Northeast Ohio audiences. Donations are always welcome. For more information, visit www.rrcms.org, or follow RRCMS on Facebook and Twitter.
Carol Jacobs
Carol Jacobs is a retired archivist, librarian, and curator who resides in Westlake and serves on the board of the Rocky River Chamber Music Society.