For Immediate Release

Janice Christensen – February 24, 2004

Guest trio to perform at SFA

            The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and the Department of Music will present Ocotillo Winds in a guest artist recital at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 6, in Cole Concert Hall. The trio is comprised of three members of the music faculty at Arizona State University: Martin Schuring, oboe; Robert Spring, clarinet; and Jeffrey Lyman, bassoon.

            According to Spring, the trio will present a fast-paced program packed with dynamic energy, including a piece written specifically for the group by J. B. Smith, a colleague at Arizona State University.

“The piece is a five-minute tour de force of technical demands for the performers,” Spring said.

            The ensemble will also perform “Habanera” by Grammy Award-winning clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera, whose jazz playing and Latin style of performing are evident in the composition, according to Spring.

            Also included on the program are pieces by Alexandre Tansman and Heitor Villa-Lobos.

            Ocotillo Winds has been performing together for four years, concertizing across the United States. The individual members also maintain active solo careers.

            Martin Shuring, associate professor of oboe, has held orchestral positions with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the Florida Orchestra and the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra. Since 1980, he has been a regular participant at the Grand Teton Festival Orchestra and made frequent appearances on the festival’s chamber music series.

            In other summer activities, he has participated in the Bach Aria Festival, performed as principal oboe of the Orchestre Philharmonique Rhodanien, served as professor of oboe at the Londrina Music Festival in Brazil and the Academie Eruopéenne de Musique in Tournon-sur-Rhône, France.

            Robert Spring, professor of clarinet, has performed as a recitalist or soloist with symphony orchestras and wind bands in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and South America and has been heard on National Public Radio’s “Performance Today.” He is the principal clarinet of the ProMusic Chamber Orchestra of Columbus, Ohio.

            Spring frequently serves as clinician and adjudicator and teaches on the faculties of several summer music festivals.

“He is one of the best clarinetists in the country,” said Dr. Chris Ayer, SFA assistant professor of music and director of clarinet studies.

            Jeffrey Lyman, associate professor of bassoon, has appeared as soloist or orchestral player at international festivals including the Moscow Autumn Festival, the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, Le Festival d’Ainay-le-Vieil and the Academie Academie Européene d’Été de Musique in France, the Festival dei Due Mondi in Italy, the Colorado Music Festival, Vermont Mozart Festival and the Saint Bart’s Music Festival in the French West Indies.

            He has held positions with orchestras across the United States, including Savannah, Grand Rapids, the Opera Company of Philadelphia and the Michigan Opera Theater.

            Prior to the recital, Ocotillo Winds will conduct master classes for SFA oboe, clarinet and bassoon students. According to Ayer, the classes will give the students an opportunity to perform for and receive input from a different professional player. Ayer said he and other SFA faculty members also will benefit from listening to the critiques.

“It’s energizing for everyone to have the guests on campus and working with the students, “ Ayer said.

            Non-SFA students are welcome to observe the classes. For more information, call Dr. Ayer at (936) 468-1360.

            Tickets to the concert are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. To order tickets or for more information, please call (936) 468-6407 or log on to www.finearts.sfasu.edu.

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