Campus Connection

Renowned saxophonist to return to campus

A saxophonist who has backed entertainers Dave Grusin, Doc Severinson,  Bob Hope, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney and others will return to where he got his start — UW-La Crosse.   University of Colorado at Boulder Associate Professor of Saxophone Tom Myer will be the featured artist at the 2016 UWL Department of Music Scholarship Gala at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, in Annett Recital Hall in the Center for the Arts.   The program will include diverse classical and jazz-influenced pieces, as well as a world premiere for saxophone and saxophone quartet. The saxophone quartet includes UWL Saxophone Instructor Jeff Erickson, Professor Emeritus Greg Balfany, and two current UWL Music scholarship recipients, Sean Conway and Anton Lenertz. Mary Tollefson, UWL associate professor of piano and Myer’s accompanist, invited Myer to perform on campus. All ticket donations will go directly to scholarships due to grants from the UWL Foundation and Xcel Energy.   After earning an undergraduate degree in music education from UWL in 1981, Myer received a Master’s of Music in woodwind performance and jazz studies from North Texas State University. He currently teaches woodwinds and jazz studies at Boulder, having served as the director of jazz studies from 1988-95.   Myer has worked professionally for the Mingus Big Band, Woody Herman and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. He has backed artists such Kathleen Battle, Lou Rawls, Natalie Cole, Nancy Wilson, Dionne Warwick, Diahann Carroll, Barbara Mandrel, Ben Folds, Idina Menzel and others.   Myer is credited with premiering John Harbison's Sonata and David Maslanka's Concerto at the World Saxophone Congress annual festivals held all over the world.   Myer can be heard on Albany Records with his CD recording of "Harbison, San Antonio." He is soprano saxophonist and a founding member of the Colorado Saxophone Quartet that recently released a recording of “12 Preludes and Fugues by Michael Pagan.”   Myer also performs and records with the Colorado Jazz Repertoire Orchestra.   The gala benefit for UWL music scholarships includes three suggested donation levels: $100 for the performance, guest artist reception following the recital, and a special thank-you event held during 2016-17; $50 for the performance and guest artist reception, and $20 for the performance only.   Reserve tickets for the performance and reception by Friday, Sept. 16. For credit card reservations and special accommodation contact Sharon Shugrue at 608.785.8415 or sshugrue@uwlax.edu. Performance only tickets are available at the door for $20.     If you go— Who:  UWL Alumnus and Saxophone Sensation Tom Myer  What: Department of Music Scholarship Gala When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 Where: Annett Recital Hall, UWL Center for the Arts          Suggested donation levels: $100 for the performance, guest artist reception following the recital, and a special thank-you event held during 2016-17; $50 for the performance and guest artist reception, and $20 for the performance. Ticket and reception reservations due Friday, Sept. 16 at 608.785.8415. Performance only tickets are available at the door for $20.