Andy Scott

The Apollo Saxophone Quartet has been internationally acclaimed as one of the UK's most innovative and exciting contemporary ensembles for the last nineteen years.

Established at the Royal Northern College of Music in 1985, the group set out to develop an original repertoire, drawing upon influences from a wide variety of cultures and disciplines, combining contemporary classical, jazz, folk and world music. Dedicated to a policy of commissioning and performing new works by today's leading composers, the Apollo Saxophone Quartet has thus become defined by its unique repertoire and has firmly established its position at the forefront of

Photo: Jon Super

contemporary performance. Richard Rodney Bennett, Graham Fitkin, Howard Skempton, Michael Torke, Django Bates, Michael Nyman and Bob Mintzer are just some of the composers who feature in the quartet's repertoire of over 85 works, which is now being further enhanced by the addition of original works by the members of the Quartet itself.

The Apollo Saxophone Quartet maintains a high profile at many leading UK Festivals (such as Brighton, Bath, Vale of Glamorgan, Harrogate, Spitalfields, Warwick & Leamington and Norfolk & Norwich) and venues throughout the UK, Europe and Japan, as well as giving regular radio and TV broadcasts. Their highly successful debut CD "First & Foremost" for Decca's Argo label reached no.3 in the UK classical music charts within one month of sales. They are also featured on; Django Bates' Decca (Argo) release "Good Evening.....here is the news" performing his quartet (an Apollo commission), Travel Cartoons for the Blind, and Michael Torke's release on the same label "Overnight Mail", performing the Apollo commissioned quartet July and also Flint (for saxophone quartet, cello, double bass, and two pianos, one played by the composer himself).

In 1998, the group released "Word & Pictures", a ground breaking CD exclusively featuring music written by the members of the Quartet, with special guest poet Lemn Sissay joining the group for a new work for four saxophones and poet that has already attracted a great deal of interest from promoters throughout the world. In 1999 the ASQ undertook an extensive UK Tour with the Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company in which they premiered Django Bates' A Fine Frenzy, a virtuosic multi-media work written especially for the ASQ to perform.

2001 saw the release of "Works for Us", a disc featuring some of the groups new commissions, and a recording of John Casken's Distant Variations for Saxophones and Winds, and 2004 saw the release of the group's latest CD "Short Cuts" (on the Quartz label) featuring new music commissioned by the ASQ and the Gulbenkian Foundation from some of Portugal's leading composers. These new works received their world premieres in London in December 2004, and the ASQ will be taking them to Lisbon for premiere in Portugal later this month.

2005 sees the release of the groups latest CD "Three Quartets" featuring the music of Barbara Thompson and the ASQ plans to record a concertos CD featuring new commissioned concertos for Saxophone Quartet and Strings with the Goldberg ensemble in 2006.

Photo: Jon Super

Recent projects have included a major commission for the Quartet to write 60 minutes of film scores for Saxophones and silent film for Phoenix Arts, a collaboration with jazz saxophonist Julian Arguelles, several appearances at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall, including a world premiere of a new work written for the group by Mike Gibbs for Saxophones, Piano and Percussion, with Joanna MacGregor & Simone Rebello, and a residency at the ISCM World Music Days Festival with poet Lemn Sissay. Current projects include a multi-media project with composer Matt Wright featuring video relays, live and pre-recorded sampling and DJ, and a collaborative project with the Goldberg ensemble, performing newly commissioned music for Saxophone Quartet and String Ensemble.

The ASQ regularly presents specialist Saxophone Days and workshops with young composers at schools, Universities and Conservatoires throughout the UK. The group has also composed an extensive series of compositions for young saxophonists, published by astute-music.com, (many of which are now included on the associated Board exam syllabus) ranging from quartets and duets to solo studies and saxophone and piano albums.

2006 is the groups 21st Anniversary, and to commemorate this remarkable achievement, the ASQ will be commissioning several major new works, touring in the UK, throughout Europe and Japan, performing major new projects and commissioning further new pieces. Highlights include the premiere of a new concerto from Bill Connor to commemorate Richard Rodney Bennett's 70th birthday and a national tour with the Goldberg Ensemble featuring a major new commission for Saxophones and Strings from Barry Guy.

For further information visit apollosaxophonequartet.com

Text with thanks to www.robbuckland.com

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