Portland Saxophone Ensemble plays Breathe, Set, Play at NASA Region 1

In early April, the Portland Saxophone Ensemble performed Breathe, Set, Play during the NASA Region 1 chamber music showcase concert. Before the concert, I got the chance to share a little bit about the piece and help the audience make sense of the title:

The piece and title are a nod to the pedagogy of Dr. Sean Fredenburg, who also founded the Portland Saxophone Ensemble in 2018.

What followed was a lovely rendering of Breathe, Set, Play—the second ever performance of the piece:

The entire NASA Region 1 conference at the University of Idaho was a treat. Students and professors from all corners of the region (from Missoula to Eugene and Boise to Seattle) consistently impressed with their performances, compositions, and kind thoughtfulness in conversation—heartening when ours feels like a region sometimes musically forgotten amidst the power houses in the midwest, south, and northeast.

I’m so excited about the new friends and projects that have resulted from this conference and am eagerly waiting for the next time pacific northwest saxophones can all get together.