Brian Sacawa
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Brian Sacawa (b. 04 October 1977, Schenectady, New York)
- American saxophonist
- Studies with Donald Sinta, Gary Louie, Lynn Klock
- Co-founder of new music duo Non-Zero
- Faculty, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Biography
Praised by The New York Times as "an inventive musician," "fresh and surprising," and "vividly lyrical," saxophonist Brian Sacawa has firmly established himself as an important contemporary voice for his instrument. A winner of awards for solo performance from both national and international competitions, his sensitivity and finesse, virtuosic flair, and cutting edge technical mastery have led to characterizations of his playing as "consistently intense and energetic . . . just sensational" (Sequenza21).
Named the Baltimore CITYPAPER's Critics Choice for Classical Music in 2002 for his evocative and engaging performances of music by Luciano Berio and Karlheinz Stockhausen, Mr. Sacawa has premiered over thirty new works for saxophone by both established and emerging composers, including Philip Glass, Michael Gordon, Bright Sheng, Jo Kondo, Oliver Schneller, Beata Moon, Ken Ueno, and Hillary Zipper, among many others. Sacawa's commitment to expanding and developing the instruments repertoire also impacts his desire for new music to reach and connect with new audiences, which is reflected in his efforts to reinterpret the traditional concert format.
Mr. Sacawa's versatile career has led to appearances with the St. Petersburg (Russia) Philharmonic, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, Bargemusic, Harvard Group for New Music, New Music Brandeis, and at important musical venues across the United States, including Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, and Columbia University's Miller Theater. He has performed under the baton of internationally acclaimed conductors Leonard Slatkin, Yuri Temirkanov, James Conlon, and Neeme Järvi. His festival credits include performances at recent meetings of the SEAMUS National Conference, the ISU Contemporary Music Festival, World Saxophone Congress, North American Saxophone Alliance, and New England Saxophone Symposium. In addition, Mr. Sacawa has lectured at the Manhattan School of Music, New York University, the University of Michigan, and Indiana State University.
With percussionist Timothy Feeney, Mr. Sacawa is the co-founder of the new music duo Non-Zero. In only its first season, Non-Zero has amassed a heady list of credentials, including ten world premieres, performances in New York City, Boston, Michigan, and New Hampshire, and a residency at New York University as part of NYUs First Performance concert series.
Mr. Sacawa holds degrees from the University of Michigan, the Peabody Conservatory of Music, and the University of Massachusetts--Amherst, where he studied with Donald Sinta, Gary Louie, and Lynn Klock. He has recorded for the Innova, Equilibrium, Naxos, and BiBimBop record labels. Mr. Sacawa currently serves on the faculty of the University of Arizona in Tucson.
Discography
- American Voices - New American Music - Upcoming
- Tompkins County Organic: homegrown beats, vol. I - Music by DJ Dubble 8
- Earthshine - Music by Beata Moon - BiBimBop Records
- Collaborations - Featuring the Larry Teal Saxophone Quartet - Equilibrium EQ66
- Songs of Innocence and Experience - William Bolcom, Leonard Slatkin, conductor - Naxos 8559216-18
Premieres
Solo & with Piano or Electronics
- J. Anthony Allen - Point/Line (2002) for alto sax and live signal processing
- J. Anthony Allen - Mulligrub (2003) for alto sax and electronics
- Nishan Baljian - Linguistics (1998) for solo alto sax
- Richard Belcastro - Collage No. 1 (Bits of Bowie) (2006) for alto or baritone sax & tape
- Per Bloland - Quintet (2005)
- Lou Bunk - Luna (2003) for alto sax and MAX/MSP
- Pamela Chen - Willow Dance (2004) for alto sax and piano
- Zachary Crockett - Fight to Flow Between (premiere Feb 2006)
- Dennis DeSantis - Patriot Act (2003) for solo alto sax
- Michael Djupstrom - Walimai (2005) for alto sax and piano
- Derek Hurst - Bacchanalia Skiapodorum (2004) for alto sax and electronic sound
- Noah Keesecker - Diacope (premiere Feb 2006)
- Keeril Makan - Voice within Voice (2005) for solo baritone sax
- Beata Moon - 1, 2, 3 (2002) for solo alto sax
- Oliver Schneller - Eclipse (2004) for alto sax and whale song
- Erik Spangler - pastlife laptops and attic instruments (2004) for alto sax, tape, & turntables
- Matt Tierney - The Gutless Wonder (2004) for alto sax and improvising ensemble
- Ken Ueno - whatWALL? (2003) for alto sax and quadraphonic tape
- Matthew Whittall - Event Horizons (1998) for alto sax and piano
- Hillary Zipper - place untouched by the sun in winter (2004) for alto sax and electonics
Duos and Chamber Works
- Dennis Bathory-Kitsz - Rose Quartz Crystal Radio for alto sax and percussion
- Dennis Bathory-Kitsz - Like to A Rose: 23 Quartz Studies for baritone sax and percussion
- Lou Bunk - Being and Becoming (2004) for baritone sax and percussion
- Maxwell Dulaney - Altjeringa (2004) for alto sax, cello, and percussion
- Suzanne Farrin - Possessions Keep for baritone sax and percussion
- Jenny Olivia Johnson - Leaving Santa Monica for mixed ensemble
- Jo Kondo - A Shrub (2000) for alto sax, piano, and percussion, US Premiere
- David T. Little - Red Scare Sketchbook (2005) for baritone sax and percussion
- Andrew Mead - Trio for alto sax, viola, and percussion
- Sophocles Papavasilopoulos - Still Life with Karl: an American Psalm (2005) for alto sax and percussion
- Joel Puckett - Gunslingers (2004) for baritone sax and percussion
- Jesse Sklar - duo (2005) for alto sax and percussion
- Timothy Sullivan - Traces (2005) for alto sax, clarinet, and piano
- Stefan Tcherepnin - Sequences (2003) for two alto saxophones
- Juliana Trivers - pulled (2005) for baritone sax and percussion
- Hillary Zipper - the time of insects (2004) for alto sax and percussion
- Sebastian Zubieta - Caravana Rolidey (2004) for baritone sax and percussion
Quartets
- Andrew Mead - Saxophone Quartet No. 2 (2003)
Concerti
- Scott McAllister - X2 (2004) for saxophone quartet and band
Transcriptions Approved by the Composer
- Philip Glass - Piece in the Shape of a Square (1968) for alto sax and pre-recorded alto sax
- Michael Gordon - The Low Quartet (1985) for baritone sax and 3 pre-recorded baritone saxes
- David T. Little - descanso (after omega) (2004) for baritone sax, percussion, piano, and crystal glasses
- Bright Sheng - A Tune From Childhood (1996) for solo alto sax
