Department of Music

The New Thread Saxophone Quartet will perform in Old Cabell Hall on Friday, February 2nd at 8pm.  The concert is free and open to the public.

The New Thread Saxophone Quartet will perform works by UVA Music Graduate Composers in the Ph.D. Program in Composition and Computer Technologies.  The featured composers are Becky Brown, Alex Christie, Rachel Devorah, Christopher Luna-Mega, Heather Mease, Ben Luca Robertson, Aaron Stepp, and Eli Stine.

New Thread Quartet Ensemble members are Geoffrey Landman (soprano saxophone), Kristen McKeon (alto saxophone), Erin Rogers (tenor saxophone) and Zach Herchen (baritone saxophone). NTQ is a presenting partner of Composers Now.

Article in the Daily Progress about the New Thread Residency 

Quotes about the New Thread Saxophone Quartet:

“spell cast by the music” -New York Times

“adventurous, rule-breaking” -Matt Mendez, NewMusicBox

New Thread Quartet was formed with the mission to develop and perform impactful new music for the saxophone, and to provide high level ensemble playing to feature today’s compositional voices. In 5 seasons, the quartet has commissioned and premiered over 20 new works by composers such as Richard Carrick, Ben Hjertmann, Scott Wollschleger, and Kathryn Salfelder, with recent commissions from Max Grafe and Taylor Brook as part of its annual Explorations concert series. Based in New York City, NTQ has performed at Carnegie Hall, Roulette, Dance Theatre of Harlem, the Bang on a Can Summer Festival Benefit, Monadnock Music, and the World Saxophone Congress in St. Andrews, Scotland, and has performed or recorded more than 30 important works for saxophone quartet including Kati Agócs’ Hymn on New England Conservatory’s Composer Series at Jordan Hall, a revival of Michael Djupstrom’s 2001 work Test at Arizona State University’s Katzin Concert Hall, and the premiere recording of Elliott Sharp’s seminal work Approaching the Arches of Corti for 4 soprano saxophones, now available on New World Records.

NTQ has a track record of working closely with composers in a workshop environment during the formation of new works and encourages composer attendance at rehearsals. The quartet strives for multiple performances of newly commissioned works in attempt to bring new music to different audiences as often as possible.

NTQ has conducted masterclasses, residencies, and performances for student saxophonists and composers at Peabody Conservatory, Bronx Community College, Aaron Copland School (Queens College), Montclair State University, NYU and NASA Regionaland Biennial conferences across the US. NTQ encourages young composers to create new works for saxophones through an open submission policy, conducting reading and feedback sessions throughout the year.

Old Cabell Hall is located on the south end of UVA's historic lawn, directly opposite the Rotunda (map). Parking is available in the Central Grounds parking garage on Emmet Street, in the C1 parking lot off McCormick Road, and in the parking lots at the UVA Corner. 

This event is sponsored by the UVA Arts Council | Enriching the Arts on Grounds.

Please call the Music Department at 434.924.3052 for more information.
All events are subject to change.