Saxofonist

As a performer and composer, saxophonist Steven Banks (b. 1993) is striving to bring his instrument to the heart of the classical music world. He is driven to program and write music that directly addresses aspects of the human experience and is an active and intentional supporter of diverse voices in the future of concert music. Rick Perdian of Seen and Heard International has said “one senses that Banks has the potential to be one of the transformational musicians of the twenty-first century.” 

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Rhapsody In Blue @ 100

Miller Symphony Hall

Severance Music Center is Cleveland’s home for symphonic music and other presentations, including Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Concert Hall and Reinberger Chamber Hall. We are strongly committed to making everyone feel welcome. The doors to Severance open three hours prior to most performances.

An American in Paris

Severance Music Center

Fiesta! by Jimmy López Bellido is an exuberant mix of European traditions with Afro-Peruvian and popular music vibes. Steven Banks performs Billy Childs’ Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra, taking the listener through a Black American experience from Africa through enslavement to empowerment. Richard Strauss' gorgeous Suite from Der Rosenkavalier is the perfect preamble to Ravel’s fantastic La Valse.

Melting Pot of Music

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

Join us for an unforgettable experience at the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music's Festival Day 1, taking place on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 3:00pm in the Leo Rich Theater. This premier event marks the beginning of a series of captivating concerts showcasing the brilliance of chamber music.

Festival Day 1 promises an exceptional lineup of performances by world-renowned musicians. The afternoon will commence with the stirring sounds of Bohuslav Martinů's Duo No. 1, H. 157, featuring the remarkable talents of Clive Greensmith on cello and Martin Beaver on violin. The musical journey will continue with Johannes Brahms' Viola Quintet in G Major, Op. 111, brought to life by the virtuosic Masumi Per Rostad on viola and the esteemed Miró Quartet, comprising Daniel Ching and William Fedkenheuer on violins, John Largess on viola, and Joshua Gindele on cello.

The program will also highlight Camille Saint-Saëns' Oboe Sonata in D Major, Op. 166, with an innovative interpretation by Steven Banks on saxophone and Bernadette Harvey on piano. The day will conclude with Anton Arensky's Trio No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 32, performed by the acclaimed Sitkovetsky Trio, featuring Alexander Sitkovetsky on violin, Wu Qian on piano, and Isang Enders on cello.

Tickets are available for both in-person attendance and online streaming, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to partake in this musical feast. Whether you're a long-time classical music enthusiast or new to the chamber music scene, Festival Day 1 offers a perfect blend of timeless compositions and breathtaking performances.

Don't miss this chance to immerse yourself in the beauty of chamber music at the Leo Rich Theater. Secure your tickets now for an afternoon of exquisite musical artistry.

Festival Day 1

Tucson Convention Center

Join us for an unforgettable evening of classical music at the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music's Festival Day 2, happening on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 7:30pm in the Leo Rich Theater. This night promises an exquisite lineup of performances by world-renowned musicians, featuring compositions from Mozart, Shostakovich, Martinů, and Schubert.

The program will open with Mozart's Oboe Quartet in F Major, K.370, brought to life by the talents of Martin Beaver on violin, Clive Greensmith on cello, Masumi Per Rostad on viola, and Steven Banks on oboe. Following this, the evening will continue with Shostakovich's Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67, performed by the Sitkovetsky Trio, including Alexander Sitkovetsky on violin, Wu Qian on piano, and Isang Enders on cello. The night will also feature Martinů's Variations on a Slovak Theme, H.378, with Clive Greensmith returning on cello alongside Wu Qian on piano. The grand finale will be Schubert's String Quartet No. 15 in G Major, D.887, presented by the Miró Quartet, featuring Daniel Ching and William Fedkenheuer on violins, John Largess on viola, and Joshua Gindele on cello.

Tickets are available for both in-person attendance and online streaming, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience this magnificent showcase of chamber music. Whether you're a long-time classical music enthusiast or new to the genre, this event is sure to leave you mesmerized by the beauty and complexity of chamber music performed at its highest level. Don't miss this highlight of the 2025 festival season!

Festival Day 2

Join us for an enchanting evening of chamber music on Festival Day 3 of the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music series, happening on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 7:30 pm in the Leo Rich Theater. This remarkable event promises an unforgettable lineup of classical masterpieces performed by world-renowned musicians.

The evening will commence with Claude Debussy's "Rhapsody for Saxophone," featuring the exceptional talents of Bernadette Harvey on piano and Steven Banks on saxophone. This will be followed by Johannes Brahms' "Piano Quartet in C Minor, Op. 60," brought to life by the Sitkovetsky Trio with Alexander Sitkovetsky on violin, Wu Qian on piano, Isang Enders on cello, and Masumi Per Rostad on viola.

The program will also include Olivier Messiaen's "Thème et Variations 1932," a captivating piece performed by Martin Beaver on violin and Bernadette Harvey on piano. The evening will conclude with Ludwig van Beethoven's "String Quartet No. 8 in E Minor, Op. 59, No. 2," presented by the Miró Quartet, featuring Daniel Ching and William Fedkenheuer on violins, John Largess on viola, and Joshua Gindele on cello.

Tickets are available for both in-person attendance and online streaming, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience this magnificent showcase of chamber music. Whether you're a long-time classical music enthusiast or new to the genre, Festival Day 3 of the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music is an event not to be missed.

Festival Day 3

Join us for an unforgettable experience at the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music's Festival Day 5, taking place on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 3:00pm in the Leo Rich Theater. This day marks a special occasion in our festival lineup, featuring an array of performances that showcase the depth and diversity of chamber music.

The afternoon will commence with the Sitkovetsky Trio, consisting of Alexander Sitkovetsky on violin, Wu Qian at the piano, and Isang Enders with the cello, performing Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Trio Op. 70 No. 2. This piece promises to captivate the audience with its intricate melodies and emotional depth.

Following this, the stage will welcome the world premiere of Steven Banks' Saxophone Quintet. Performed by the Miró Quartet—Daniel Ching and William Fedkenheuer on violins, John Largess on viola, and Joshua Gindele on cello—alongside Steven Banks himself on saxophone, this piece is sure to be a highlight of the festival, offering a unique blend of classical music and saxophone's versatile sounds.

The program will also feature Robert Schumann's Adagio and Allegro for cello and piano, Op. 70, with Isang Enders returning to the stage on cello, accompanied by Bernadette Harvey on piano. This piece is renowned for its expressive range and the intimate dialogue between the cello and piano.

Concluding the day's performances, Johannes Brahms' Piano Quartet in G Minor, Op. 25, will be presented by an ensemble of distinguished musicians: Clive Greensmith on cello, Martin Beaver on violin, Masumi Per Rostad on viola, and Bernadette Harvey back at the piano. This quartet is celebrated for its dramatic themes and the vigorous Hungarian dance finale that promises to leave the audience exhilarated.

Tickets are available for both in-person attendance and online streaming, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to partake in this musical feast. Whether you're a long-time classical music enthusiast or new to the chamber music scene, Festival Day 5 offers a perfect blend of classical masterpieces and contemporary works performed by world-class musicians.

Don't miss this highlight of the 2024/2025 season at the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music. Secure your tickets now and be part of a memorable day celebrating the beauty and power of chamber music.

Festival Day 5

The appearance of vocalists Felicia Moore, Kelley O’Connor, Issachah Savage and Reginald Smith Jr. is generously supported by Lisa and Matthew Winkler.

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Xian Zhang

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

State Theatre New Jersey

Ruth Reinhardt returns to lead the Symphony in two delightful works by two Czech masters: the Overture and Three Dances from Smetana’s folk-inspired romantic comedy The Bartered Bride and Dvořák’s infectiously joyous Symphony No. 8, which was conceived and written in the gorgeous green landscape of fields and woods around the small community where Dvořák had his country home. Having grown-up as a country boy in a largely agricultural community, the composer was passionate about the beauties of the rural world, taking pleasure especially in the rich variety of the songs of wild birds, which he would listen to in the little wood at the bottom of his garden. Probably no other symphony in the established repertoire is so full of delicious suggestions of singing birds as this!

Steven Banks

Saxofonist

Events

9 - 10 Nov, 2024

Rhapsody In Blue @ 100 · Miller Symphony Hall

9 - 12 Jan, 2025

An American in Paris · The Cleveland Orchestra

21 - 23 Feb, 2025

Melting Pot of Music · Sarasota Orchestra

Mar 2, 2025

Festival Day 1 · Arizona Friends of Chamber Music

Mar 4, 2025

Festival Day 2 · Arizona Friends of Chamber Music

Future and recently performed repertoire

Saxophone in Romeo and Juliet Suite by Prokofiev

Minnesota Orchestra

Saxophone in Slavonic Dances by Dvořák

Evanston Symphony Orchestra

Saxophone in Má vlast by Smetana

Minnesota Orchestra

Saxophone in Saxophone Concerto by Childs

San Diego Symphony

Saxophone in Diaspora by Childs

Minnesota Orchestra

Saxophone in Saxophone Concerto by Tomasi

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Saxophone in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Dukas

Evanston Symphony Orchestra

Saxophone in Symphony No. 8 by Dvořák

Evanston Symphony Orchestra

Saxophone in Oboe Sonata in D Major by Saint-Saëns

Arizona Friends of Chamber Music

Oboe in Oboe Quartet in F Major by Mozart

Arizona Friends of Chamber Music

Saxophone in Rhapsody for Saxophone by Debussy

Arizona Friends of Chamber Music

Saxophone in Soprano Saxophone Concerto "Albireo Mode" by Yoshimatsu

San Diego Symphony

About

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