Cody McPherson, a senior music education student at West Virginia University, was recently chosen as one of 40 international saxophonists to compete in the International Saxophone Symposium and Competition.
The competition will be held at Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music in Columbus, Ga. on October 25-28.
The live rounds of the competition will take place in Legacy Hall, one of the Schwob School of Music’s state-of-the-art concert venues.
“I feel quite honored to be one of the saxophonists selected to advance in the International Saxophone Symposium and Competition,” said McPherson, of Parkersburg. “From what the competition coordinator informed us, the screening round was very competitive and saw a high number of applicants.”
The competition will be judged by a panel of accomplished saxophonists from Europe, Canada and the United States including Jan Berry Baker, Laurent Estoppey, Clifford Leaman, Otis Murphy, Julia Nolan and Steve Stusek.
The first place winner of the competition will win a cash prize of $3,000 and be a featured soloist on the world premiere CD recording of James M. David’s concerto for alto saxophone and percussion ensemble.
As a dress rehearsal for the competition, McPherson will be presenting a recital on Oct. 11 at 8:15 in Bloch Learning and Performance Hall (200A). The recital is free and open to the public.
WVU students and professors are eager to show their support for McPherson when he competes in the symposium.
“I’m happy for Cody and his accomplishment,” said WVU professor of saxophone Michael Ibrahim. “Saxophonists don’t have the same youth symphony opportunities as other woodwinds, and so these competitions tend to draw a competitive body of players.
“The sax studio will likely make this into a road trip in support of Cody and to observe other events at this symposium.”
McPherson credits a lot of his success to his instructors and the resources that WVU provides its dedicated students.
“WVU has helped me develop as a musician by providing me with ample resources to succeed. I have been fortunate enough to study saxophone privately with a world-class teacher, Dr. Ibrahim,” said McPherson. “His instruction has both encouraged and challenged me to always become a better musician.”
The purpose of the symposium and competition is to provide an international competition that will take place in North America and a new saxophone symposium for the southeastern region of the United States.
The competition will focus on solo classical playing, following the model of the world’s most prestigious solo classical saxophone competitions: the Jean-Marie Londeix International Saxophone Competition in Bangkok, Thailand, and Competition Adolphe Sax in Dinant, Belgium.
For more information on the symposium, please visit http://music.columbusstate.edu/events/saxophone/.
-WVU-
Lb/9-15-12
CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu
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