Steven Banks Saxophone Virtuoso and Young Concert Artists Winner Live Streamed Re-cital

Due to the ongoing pandemic, this will be a virtual concert performed by Steven Banks, saxophone virtuoso and Xak Bjerken, piano, 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 (https://bit.ly/RRCMS_Facebook) or YouTube (https://bit.ly/RRCMS_YouTube). Access to the concert will be available by using one of these links shortly before the beginning of the concert on February 15, 7:30 p.m.

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 remains firmly committed to the presentation of concerts at no cost for Northeast Ohio audiences, whether virtual, in person, or both. Donations are always welcome. For further information visit the RRCMS website at www.rrcms.org, or follow RRCMS on Facebook and Twitter.