There are still some places left for the MusicFest Saxophone Course (23-31 July)
For more information go to http://musicfestaberystwyth.org/events/saxophone/
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The Venue for the Accent Music Hub Saxophone Day on Saturday 2nd July

Huge congratulations to talented Saxophonist Jess Gillam for having won through to be one of three finalists in the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition. 

Congratulations to young Saxophonist, Jess Gillam on her success in the Woodwind Section of the BBC's Young Musician of the Year 2016 Competition last week.

Some fantastic prizes totalling £4,000 available to be won when you attend one of the 9 events that form part of Andy's Lucky Draw Sax Tour this summer.

Sax and Piano duo, Vykintas Civas (alto saxophone) & Birute Stundziaite (piano), are to perform 'Three Letter Word' by Andy Scott in three concerts in Lithuania during April 2016:
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April 6  at festival 'Pavasaris piano.lt 2016' to be held in Vilnius
April 8 at festival 'Sugrizimai 2016', in Ukmerge
April 12 at festival 'Sugrizimai 2016', held in Vilnius

Dave Hassell (Drums and Percussion), Paul Kilvington (Keyboards), Ken Marley (Double Bass) and Andy launch a new project called 'Celebrating Brazil'.   
"The Quartet has been exploring music from Brazil in rehearsal, tracks from Hermeto, Airto and Jobim.   It's amazing music, harmonically and rhythmically complex with memorable melodies.   It's been great learning these tunes and we are all looking forward to the forthcoming gigs."
Check the events page for further details.

Seventeen-year-old Saxophonist, Jess Gillam is due to take part in the Woodwind Final of the BBCs Young Musician of the Year competition.
"Jess Gillam is a wonderful young musician, who works very hard and has a great attitude.   For a number of years, she has been studying at the Royal Northern College of Music Junior School, and will be commencing her studies as an undergraduate student at the RNCM in September 2016.    Everybody is delighted that Jess has once again reached the Woodwind Final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year, and wish her the best of luck in Cardiff on 7th March.    On a personal level, I am really pleased that Jess has chosen to include my piece 'Fujiko' in her programme."
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2016/bbc-young-musician
www.jessgillamsax.co.uk
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Lucky Draw Sax Tour is an idea of Andys that sees him directing a number of saxophone days and saxophone courses in the UK and France from March to July 2016.    By attending one of these events, you will automatically be included in a draw to win some fantastic prizes to take place on 31st July.
"I'm really looking forward to working with lots of saxophonists in the UK and France and am very grateful to Selma Paris Saxophones, Vandoren, Astute Music and Libero for providing a wonderful array of prizes.    In addition, I will compose a 3-minute piece as one of the main prizes specifically to that persons saxophonic experience."
See the Events pages for dates and further details.,

About 15 months ago, Andy was approached by Mark Concar, Director of the Love Music Trust percussion ensemble, to see if he would be interested in writing a work for the group.    Love Music Trust is the music hub for Cheshire East and has a number of flagship County ensembles, with the percussion ensemble at the forefront, giving performances in London and Manchester as well as Cheshire East and undertaking collaborative projects that give the young musicians of the group invaluable musical experiences.   
The quirky title of the piece, Elvis was my Taxi Driver, came about when Andy himself was a student at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.   After gigging one night with an Elvis impersonator, the following lunchtime, Andy was giving a workshop in a Manchester school with his Jazz Quintet and was waiting for percussionist, Mike Hamnett, to arrive by taxi and lo and behold, the very same Elvis was his driver!  
The 6-minute piece divides in to three sections;  By Day, Morphing and The King which roughly follows a day in the life of our Taxi-driving Elvis impersonator.
"A big thank you to Mark, LMT Percussion Ensemble and the Love Music Trust.  You gave a great performance at the RNCM Day of Percussion on Sunday, 7th February 2016, a composer couldn't ask for any more at a World Premiere of a new commission."


www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/drum-sweat-and-tears-young-musicians-rai...
www.lovemusictrust.com/world-premiere-for-percussion-ensemble-at-rncm/
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Andy was approached by Manchester Camerata to play in a new project, Hacienda Classical.   For the very first time, the DJs who shaped the Hacienda sound - Graeme Park and Mike Pickering - will perform a continuous set of Hacienda Classics alongside a 70-strong Manchester Camerata Orchestra, with special guest vocalists.   Taking the euphoria of Hacienda nights to a whole new level, Hacienda Classical is a unique meeting of styles.  
"Musical Director Tim Crooks has created some amazing arrangements in a carefully crafted one-hour, 40 minute set.   There are two saxophone parts which Carl Raven and I are playing and the combination of DJs, Gospel Choir, 70-piece orchestra and guest vocalists is something special.  I can remember going to the Hacienda in about 1987, at a time when Manchesters music scene was exploding and known worldwide, it's fascinating 30 years later to be part of this project and play the music in concert halls such as the Bridgewater Hall and Royal Albert Hall."
For dates and further details, check the Events page.
www.thisisgraemepark.com/general/hacienda-classical-here-we-go
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/hacienda-c...
www.manchestercamerata.co.uk

We are delighted to announce that once again, Andy Scott has been shortlisted for the British Composer of the Year Award 2015 in the Wind Band or Brass Band category. A Child Like You was commisioned by Foden's Band through the New Music Biennial in 2014 in conjunction with the Commonwealth Games.
A Child Like You, depicts the real life story of a 17-year old Ugandian Asian who fled Uganda in 1972, under the brutal regime of Idi Amin, and who subsequently lived with the family of composer Andy Scott, via UK refugee camps. Andy has composed music and lyrics that are powerful and thought-provoking, producing a 15-minute mini-opera that features soprano/narrator Anna-Clare Monk, harpist Lauren Scott, the world famous Foden’s Brass Band and four young musicians from Foden’s Youth Band who both play and narrate.

The shortlist can be seen here. The 2015 British Composer Awards ceremony will take place on 9 December at the British Film Institute, Southbank, London and will feature in a BBC Radio 3 broadcast.
Andy Scott was shortlisted and won the British Composer Award in 2006 for Dark Rain in the Wind Band or Brass Band category; and was shortlisted for the British Composer Award in 2012 for Spirit of Mingus. Well done Andy and to all the other shortlisted candidates who beat stiff competition to be short-listed.

On Sunday 8th November 2015 and now in its 16th Year, Co-Artistic Directors Rob Buckland and Andy Scott present another action packed day of events.
Everyone is welcome and the day is relaxed and informal.
As a saxophonist you may choose to go to a workshop or visit Trade Stands or chat with saxophone playing friends over a coffee!
For more info visit the RNCM website for more details about the Saxophone Day and click here to download the PDF poster with more information.

Positive reviews of London premieres of two Andy Scott works appear on the specialist band website 4 Bars Rest.
The recent London premiere of A Child Like You, Andy Scott’s New Music Biennial commission for Foden’s Band, Anna-Clare Monk and Lauren Scott conducted by Michael Fowles at Southbank Centre, received a considered and substantial review by Peter Bale. It painted a clear picture of the work, highlighting aspects of the instrumentation and linking the music with the subject matter. While observing that the work is hard to categorise, the reviewer concludes that it is “an immensely powerful, emotive and very relevant work that reflects attitudes and circumstances of this or any other era”.
Earlier in the year, Andy Scott’s Fujiko was premiered in a new version for flute and wind band by Rachel Smith and the Band of the Coldstream Guards as part of a St George’s Day concert at Cadogan Hall. Peter Bale remarked: “The march Standard of St George was an obvious candidate for inclusion on such an occasion; less so was Andy Scott’s Fujiko, in a first performance in a new arrangement for flute, with Lance Sergeant Rachel Smith as the impressive soloist. With its Japanese influences and unfamiliar sounds, it made for one of the highlights of the evening.” 
Andy Scott’s works are published by Astute Music
Click to read the review of A Child Like You on the 4 Bars Rest website
Click to read the review of Fujiko on the 4 Bars Rest website

Andy Scott and his music will feature heavily in SaxOpen, the World Saxophone Congress in Strasbourg, next month.
Andy Scott will feature as both performer and composer in The Tenor Saxophone Collective at a featured SaxOpen Festival evening event entitled The Strasbourg Project on Sunday 12th July at 6pm. Conceived by Andy Scott and Erin Royer, and comprising twelve established tenor saxophonists from across the world, the ensemble will present eight world premieres of music written especially for this exciting event.
Celebrating 30 years at the forefront of the UK music scene, the Apollo Saxophone Quartet will present a programme selected from the ensemble’s 30th anniversary CD Perspectives. The recital will take place at 4.00pm on Friday 10 July.
Under the direction of Rob Buckland and Andy Scott, the RNCM Saxophone Orchestra will give a recital on Saturday 11 July at 12.00 noon. Exploiting the versatility of the saxophone, the ensemble will present a programme taking inspiration from jazz, contemporary classical and folk music. Their programme will include The Golden Horn by Andy Scott as well as other new works commissioned from emerging and established British composers.
As previously reported, Andy Scott’s SaxAssault will give the closing concert on 14 July, with a pop focused programme featuring the original Supertramp saxophonist, John Helliwell. The concert will include the premiere of some brand new charts by Andy Scott for nine saxophones and rhythm section, including a guitar in the line-up for the first time. Andy Scott is grateful to Selmer Paris for supporting this free public event linked to the city's Bastille Day celebrations.
Big Red by Andy Scott will be performed by Yorkshire Saxophone Choir as part of a programme of works by British composers on Monday 13 July at 9.30am.
SaxOpen is the latest incarnation of the triennial World Saxophone Congress, which brings together professional, students and amateur saxophonists from across the globe to perform on the world stage and share their passion for the saxophone. Directed by Philippe Geiss, SaxOpen will be dedicated to research (congress) and festivities (festival). The event will be open to the public and to all styles of music, with the main themes being tradition, research and innovation.
Click to visit the SaxOpen website

Andy Scott is busy preparing for the second Sandbach Saxophone Weekend, which will take place on 4 and 5 July at Sandbach School.
There are still a few places remaining on this tailor made new course, which is suitable for adult saxophonists and young people alike, with a minimum level of Grade 3. As last year, there will be an enjoyable programme of workshop sessions in a friendly, supportive environment, including Andy’s popular SaxAssault workshop, his Access All Areas introduction to improvisation for non-jazz musicians, and a range of small and large saxophone ensemble sessions. Andy will also give an insight into his works for ABRSM and Trinity Guildhall saxophone exams. 
A special feature of this year’s event will be performances by Australian saxophonist Erin Royer and the RNCM and Queensland Conservatorium Saxophone Orchestras. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear these world class players, and to share the stage with them in a massed saxophone spectacular to round off the weekend.
With over 20 years in music education, Andy Scott has earned a reputation as a gifted teacher. As versatile an educator as he is a performer and composer, Andy’s wide ranging music interests and experience enable him to teach across classical, jazz and contemporary styles.
The Sandbach Saxophone Weekend is run in collaboration with the Love Music Trust and sponsored by Selmer Paris, Vandoren and Astute Music. 
Click to view details of the Sandbach Saxophone Weekend on the Love Music Trust website
Click to visit the Educator section on this website for more information about Andy’s education work
Click to visit the websites for Selmer Paris, Vandoren and Astute Music

Andy Scott will be launching an exciting new purpose-designed product for saxophonists this summer. 
Libero is the world’s first and only adjustable saxophone sling spacer, and has been developed by Andy Scott in collaboration with engineer Ian Sanger. By preventing a traditional sling from constricting the sides of the neck, Libero enables players to free up their breathing, thereby achieving a better sound. This can transform a saxophonist’s playing for a relatively small investment.
Libero has the flexibility to be used with any saxophone sling, making it ideal for players who prefer to use different slings for different sizes of saxophone. It can be used with players’ existing favourite sling(s), removing any need to adapt to a different style of sling, and can even be adjusted while playing. Although designed for the saxophone player, Libero is equally suitable for clarinet players who choose to play with a neck sling.
Libero is a stylish high quality accessory, designed to last a lifetime. It is designed to be quickly fitted and removed, and can be adjusted very easily, even while playing. Other benefits include distributing some weight to the chest, enabling fine height adjustment of the mouthpiece and facilitating low note production for beginners. Libero will initially be available in black or silver colour, with solid brass end clamps. Watch this space for future developments!
Libero is currently in production and will be available exclusively from this website from July 2015. 
Click to view the Libero Facebook page from July 2015 (link to follow)

The Apollo Saxophone Quartet will be performing at the official opening event of the new Sax.co.uk London store this month.
The performance will take place on 25 June at 5.00pm. Sax.co.uk London has recently relocated to much larger premises with an even bigger and better range of products and improved customer facilities. Apollo Saxophone Quartet will perform their popular and entertaining music for silent film as part of this event, which will also feature a performance by Gerard McChrystal. There will also be an extra 10% discount for the day as well as free gifts and complimentary refreshments.
Andy Scott is a founder member of the Apollo Saxophone Quartet, which has been at the forefront of the British contemporary music scene for almost 30 years. The ensemble has made the largest single contribution to the saxophone quartet repertoire in the UK, commissioning and premiering over 100 works, ranging from quartets to concerti and film scores, as well as numerous creative collaborations with poet, dancers, multimedia and strings.
Described as The Temple of Sax, Sax.co.uk is the world’s largest saxophone specialist retailer, and has premises in both Sussex and London. The new London store on Hampstead Road is a former furniture showroom with a floor space of 8,600 square feet, making it by far the largest shop of its kind in London. It boasts 11 sound proofed play testing booths and seven practice rooms. The shop features over 300 of the finest new, pre owned and vintage saxophones, plus a wide range of custom necks, mouthpieces and accessories.
Click to visit the Apollo Saxophone Quartet website
Click to visit the Sax.co.uk London website

Following the success of the first Sandbach Saxophone Weekend last year, Andy Scott is finalising plans for the second event in what promises to be a popular annual series.
Andy Scott will lead the second Sandbach Saxophone Weekend on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July at the Maxwell Davies Music Centre at Sandbach School. This course is aimed at both adult saxophonists and young people of Grade 3 level and above, and will include a stimulating and enjoyable mix of workshop sessions in a friendly, supportive environment. 
This year’s event will feature Australian saxophonist Erin Royer and the RNCM and Queensland Conservatorium Saxophone Orchestras. Erin Royer will be playing music from her forthcoming debut album. The RNCM and Queensland ensembles will give a preview of the pieces that they will be performing the following week at the World Saxophone Congress in Strasbourg, before joining the weekend participants for a massed saxophone spectacular to finish.
The weekend will include different levels of groups to enable intermediate and advanced players to improve their skills and be pushed to the best of their ability. Activities will include Andy’s popular SaxAssault workshop, his Access All Areas introduction to improvisation for non-jazz musicians and an insight into his works for ABRSM and Trinity Guildhall saxophone exams, as well as a range of small and large saxophone ensemble sessions. 
With over 20 years in music education, Andy Scott has earned a reputation as a gifted teacher. As versatile an educator as he is a performer and composer, Andy’s wide ranging music interests and experience enable him to teach across classical, jazz and contemporary styles.
The Sandbach Saxophone Weekend is run in collaboration with the Love Music Trust and sponsored by Selmer Paris, Vandoren and Astute Music. 
Click to view details of the Sandbach Saxophone Weekend on the Love Music Trust website
Click to visit the Educator section on this website for more information about Andy’s education work
Click to visit the website for Selmer Paris, Vandoren and Astute Music

Andy Scott will be heavily involved in the Hong Kong Summer Jazz Festival this week as performer, composer and educator.
One of the major highlights of the festival is a concert of music written and performed by Bob Mintzer and Andy Scott with the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong Strings plus a rhythm section comprising piano, bass and drums. This will take place on 7 June, with a programme that mixes a classical string orchestra with a traditional rhythm section from the world of jazz, crossing genre boundaries in true Andy Scott style.
Another event not to be missed is a performance on 8 June by Andy Scott's 'SaxAssault Hong Kong!' featuring top saxophone star Bob Mintzer, who was guest artist on the SaxAssault CD Sax of Gold. The Hong Kong incarnation of Andy’s UK based SaxAssault has been brought together for the first time for this event, which will feature Andy’s popular compositions for the unique line-up of nine saxophones from sopranino to bass plus rhythm section.
Prior to these performances, Andy Scott's Saxophone Day on 6 June will feature a wide range of participatory events for saxophonists of all levels and musical interests, including a mass saxophone orchestra for people of all ages.
The festival runs from 3 to 9 June, based at Hong Kong City Hall in the city’s Central District. Andy’s former Apollo Saxophone Quartet colleague Jon Rebbeck is the Artistic Director of the festival, which will also include a final concert by Bob Mintzer with a retrospective programme featuring works from his long and successful career.
Click to visit the Hong Kong Summer Jazz Facebook page for full programme details.

Andy Scott’s new sonata for alto saxophone and piano received its world premiere in London yesterday evening.
Saxophonist Anthony Brown and pianist Leo Nicholson gave the world premiere of Andy Scott's Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano in the Monday Platform series at London's Wigmore Hall. The new sonata has been adapted by the composer from the Sonata for Flute and Piano, a popular work that can be heard on the CD The Bad Tempered Flute.
The event was presented by the Park Lane Group as one of the Park Lane Group Young Artists Concerts. Anthony Brown and Leo Nicholson were among the outstanding artists at the 2014 PLG Young Artists New Year Series, giving performances which transfixed their audiences.
1 June was the night of the saxophone in London. On the same evening, Huw Wiggin and his ensemble the Ferio saxophone quartet performed in the Royal Over-Seas League competion final. The quartet’s debut concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall was as a result of winning the ensembles section of the annual music competition. As a soloist, Huw Wiggin was also the first prize and gold medal winner of the 2014 Royal Overseas League Competition.
Andy Scott’s works are published by Astute Music
Click to visit the website for Anthony Brown
Click to visit the website for the Ferio Saxophone Quartet

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Andy Scott’s Paquito featured in the International Trumpet Guild 40th Anniversary Conference in Columbus, Ohio last month.
The popular work was heard for the first time in a brand new arrangement by Andy for this event. It was premiered by the United States Marine Band Brass Ensemble with international trumpet virtuoso Rex Richardson as soloist in a concert on 28 May.
Paquito pays tribute to the brilliant composer, saxophonist and clarinettist Paquito D'Rivera in a fast salsa based around a two-three clave pulse, featuring a fiery solo. Originally composed for the British Clarinet Ensemble, Paquito now exists in a number of different instrumental versions, available from Astute Music. The piece can be heard on Looping the Loop by the British Clarinet Ensemble and The Bad Tempered Flute, played by Andy Findon and Lauren Scott.
Renowned international trumpeter Rex Richardson tours throughout the year as a clinician, recitalist and soloist with orchestras, wind ensembles, big bands and brass bands. The International Trumpet Guild Conference is the leading annual event in the trumpet calendar. Celebrating it’s 40th birthday, the conference took place from 26 to 30 May at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Columbus, Ohio.
Paquito is published by Astute Music
Click to visit the International Trumpet Guild Conference website
Click to visit the website for Rex Richardson
Click to visit the United States Marine Band website

Andy Scott is preparing to travel to France next week for his annual spring saxophone course.
Although numbers have to be limited, the course at La Moreau in South West France has proved to be a popular event in the annual saxophone calendar, attracting many repeat bookings as well as new participants each year. Book early for next year to avoid disappointment!
During the week Andy will coach participants in large and small saxophone ensembles, and1 each player will also receive a half hour individual lesson from Andy. There will also be a jam session one evening. Andy will be covering many genres of music during the week, from classical and traditional pieces to jazz, funk and maybe even some rock and roll.
The one week course is run by Creative Vacances, a small company specialising in boutique creative residential courses in Charente Maritime, combining excellent tuition with some of the best of French food and drink. As well as Andy’s popular saxophone course, they offer a range of other courses in music and art.
Click to visit the Creative Vacances website

Background information to video interview by Andy Scott
As Composer in Residence with the famous Foden’s Brass Band since 2008, I have had the opportunity to meet and work with some wonderful conductors as well as the band itself; Michael Fowles, Garry Cutt, Allan Withington, Howard Snell, and not least Bramwell Tovey (for some reason I want to call him Sir Bram Tovey!).
Bram has a very special connection with Foden’s and Sandbach, which he tells us about towards the end of a very special evening that we had with him in Sandbach on Sunday 25th January 2015.
Briefly, a little background to how these videos and evening came about………
When Lauren (my wife) and I moved to Sandbach in 2007 we decided to give it a couple of years to settle in, then see if we could offer something musically to the town. The most appropriate way it seemed was to create the Sandbach Concert Series (now in its fifth season); eight concerts a year given by world class musicians, with a spotlight concert preceding the featured artist, that to date has seen hundreds of young musicians take to the stage for a solo or ensemble piece). To give credit where credit is due, the idea and concept came from Lauren!
I had often thought, as Artistic Director of the SCS, that it would be great to see if Bram was available to perform (piano) at one of our concerts, however we’re dealing with one of the foremost conductors/pianists/musicians in the world, and he hardly has time to visit a concert series in Sandbach! 
However, this is different because of Bram and the Sandbach connection, and from a practical point of view I thought about chatting with Bram to discuss the possibility of him giving an interview (where he could play piano at any point if he wished to?), and where we gain a valuable insight into his personality and life as a musician.
The interview went ahead, the evening after Bram (along with Mike Fowles) had directed Foden’s at the RNCM Festival of Brass, and after a full day recording with Foden’s Band.
The committee of the Sandbach Concert Series were open to my idea of creating an extra event, fortunate as it happens as there isn’t usually a SCS concert in January.
Whilst coming up with an idea and realising the plan, there was the big question about who was going to interview Bram. I knew that I wasn’t the right person for this, and approached someone who has a great rapport with Bram via Foden’s and tutoring on NYBBGB courses with Bram, chairman of Foden’s Band, John Barber. The chemistry between Bram and John is great, and John expertly steered the conversation in ways that covered various and varied topics that will be of great interest to all.
Bram gave an honest, open and generous interview, talking about (amongst other things) his childhood, the Salvation Army Bands, starting his career as a musician, the brass band movement in the UK, conductors (brass band and orchestral), the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, the New York Philharmonic & Vancouver Orchestras, Leonard Bernstein, Simon Rattle, in addition to equality, fairness, kindness and passion.
These are two very powerful 45 minute interviews that to me are inspiring, and thanks must go to John Barber and Foden’s Band, Sandbach Concert Series and a huge thanks to Bram himself!
I hope that you enjoy watching and listening to the videos, which are being exclusively released by the brass band website and company 4 Bars Rest, in conjunction with Sandbach Concert Series.
Read the news item on the 4 Bars Rest website
Watch the video on the 4 Bars Rest website

Andy Scott’s SaxAssault is to give the closing concert at SaxOpen, the World Saxophone Congress in Strasbourg, this summer.
The celebratory concert will take place at 6.00pm on Tuesday 14 July, bringing to an end a packed six days of saxophone playing of the highest quality. SaxAssault will perform a pop focused programme featuring Supertramp saxophonist John Helliwell. The concert will include the premiere of some brand new charts by Andy Scott for nine saxophones and rhythm section, which sees a guitar added to the line-up for the first time. Andy Scott is grateful to Selmer Paris for supporting this free public event linked to the city's Bastille Day celebrations.
Formed in 1994, Andy Scott's SaxAssault is a large jazz ensemble, consisting of nine saxophones from sopranino through to bass plus rhythm section. Andy’s compositions for SaxAssault are carefully crafted to feature every member of the ensemble, whether an improviser or more classically-trained musician. SaxAssault has been featured on BBC Radio 3 Jazz Notes performing new compositions by Andy, has released two CDs, and performed by invitation at the World Saxophone Congress in Slovenia.
SaxOpen is the latest incarnation of the triennial World Saxophone Congress, which brings together professional, students and amateur saxophonists from across the globe to perform on the world stage and share their passion for the saxophone. Directed by Philippe Geiss, SaxOpen will be dedicated to research (congress) and festivities (festival). The event will be open to the public and to all styles of music, with the main themes being tradition, research and innovation.
Click to visit the SaxAssault page of this website
Click to visit the SaxOpen website