RUSSELL
PETERSON
An accomplished classical/jazz saxophonist, bassoonist and composer,
Russell Peterson holds degrees from Youngstown State University (Ohio),
Le Conservatoire de Bordeaux (France), and Bowling Green State
University (Ohio), where he studied with Dr. James Umble, Donald Byo,
Jean-Marie Londeix, Dr. Jeffery Lyman and Dr. John Sampen. Winner of
numerous prizes, including the top prize at the International Geneva
Saxophone Concours, (Switzerland), and first place winner of the MTNA
National Music Competition, Mr. Peterson has soloed with orchestras in
the United States as well as Europe, including the Dana Chamber
Orchestra, (USA), Concordia Orchestra, (USA), Bowling Green
Philharmonic, (USA), L'Orchestra de la Suisse Romande, (Switzerland),
Collegium Musicum, Basel (Switzerland), The Fargo-Moorhead Symphony
Orchestra, The Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra (USA), The Orchestra
Conservatorio Superior De MÂœsica (Spain), The Western New
York Chamber Orchestra (USA), and The St. Petersburg Philharmonic,
(Russia).
Mr. Peterson is an active chamber musician, performing extensively throughout Europe and The
United States with The Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet, and is currently also performing
with the Hard-Bop Jazz Saxophone Quartet in Fargo-Moorhead. The Hard-Bop Quartet's first CD
release "DON'T STEP ON YOUR NECK", is available on Sea-Breeze records and the TSQ's debut CD
"MOUNTAIN ROADS" is available on Albany Records. Russell's first solo CD "AMERICAN BREATH"
is now available on Barking Dog Records and features the music of Maslanka, Bell and Peterson.
As an Orchestral player, Russell has served as bassoonist with several symphony orchestras, and
is currently principal bassoonist with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, as well as bassoonist with t
he Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Wind Quintet.
Mr. Peterson has performed with some of the most notable artist in the
business: Phil Woods, Manhattan Transfer, Dave Weckle, Peter
Erskin, Henry
Mancini, Gregg Bissonette, Ray Charles, Wayne Newton, Bill Watrous,
Gregg Field, Frankie Valie and the 4 Seasons, Maureen McGovern, Samuel
Sanders, The Eroica Trio, Will Kennedy, Frankie Avalon, Nick Brignola,
Zoro, Ignacio Berroa, Terri Lyne Carrington, the Four Tops.
As a composer, Russell has premiered his "Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra" with
Joel Revzen and the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra in 2000, as well as his "Concerto
for Alto Saxophone and Percussion Orchestra" at Concordia College with the Tri-College Percussion
Ensemble, which GRAMOPHONE Magazine, (Feb., 2003) noted: 'Peterson's own 16-minute Concerto,
featuring Spanish rhythms and a lovely second-movement duet with vibraphone, is an effective
vehicle for his striking command of color and dynamics. The highly-charged sound is riveting...'
He has been commissioned by the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony to compose a
"Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra" which was premiered to rave
reviews in April of 2002, including GRAMOPHONE Magazine, (May 2003),
'Peterson playing with great abandon and dazzling virtuosity, the music
has a seductive allure and visceral excitement that is more than the
sum of its purely musical parts.' A CD of The music of Russell Peterson
featuring the Saxophone and Timpani Concerto is now available from the
Fargo-Moorhead Symphony. The Fergus Falls High School Band premiered hi
band work "The Tornado of 1919" in 2001, and his new chamber works for
sax were premiered in 2003: "Sonata for Alto sax and piano" and
"Quintet for Alto sax and strings". He premiered his new "Sonata
for alto saxophone and Marimbas" with the Concorida Marimba Choir in
2006 at the Concordia Day of Percussion. Russell was recently
commissioned by the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony to compose an
openener for the 2005-06 season. "Between 2 Cultures"
was premiered on the opening concert in Sept. 2005. His "Trio for
Alto Saxophone, Violin and Piano" was premiered at the region 3 NASA
convention, April of 2007.
Mr. Peterson has served on the faculty at Youngstown State University (Ohio), The University of
Toledo (Ohio), Minnesota State University Moorhead, The Interlochen Summer Arts Camp (Michigan),
The International Music Camp, and is currently instructor of Saxophone, Bassoon ,and Jazz studies
at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.
Education
Master of Music in Woodwind Performance, May, 1995, Bowling Green State University.
Student of Dr. John Sampen (saxophone), Dr. Jeffrey Lyman (bassoon) and Suzanne Thierry (flute).
Unanimous first prize in saxophone (Medaille d'Or a l'unanimite), 1992, Bordeaux Conservatory, France.
Student of Jean-Marie Londeix.
Bachelor of Music in Performance (saxophone), 1991, Youngstown State University.
Student of James Umble.
Teaching Experience
1996- Instructor of Saxophone, Bassoon and Jazz Studies at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota.
1997- Instructor of Bassoon at Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, Minnesota.
1997- Instructor of Saxophone/Bassoon at the International Music Camp at the International Peace Gardens.
July 1996-1997, Instructor of Saxophone at The Interlochen Summer Arts Camp, Michigan.
1995-1996 Instructor of Saxophone at University of Toledo.
1993-1995, Graduate teaching assistant at Bowling Green State University.
1994-1995, Music Instructor at Bowling Green State University's Super Sax Camp.
1992-1993, Saxophone instructor at Fine Arts and Music Education Conservatory, Youngstown, Ohio.
1994-1995, Music Plus Instructor. Donated teaching time to financially-challenged inner city Toledo children.
1992-1993 Instructor of Saxophone at Youngstown State University.
Selected Performing Experience
Featured Soloist at the 2007 Region 3 North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Convention, Fargo ND.
Featured soloist at the SAX SUMMIT Bismark, ND, February, 2007
Featured soloist with the Fargo Pops Orchestra May, 2006.
Featured soloist with the Fargo Pops Orchestra June, 2005.
Featured soloist with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra (Russia), May,1996.
Featured Soloist with the Bismarck-Mandan Symphnoy Orchestra, Tom Wellen conductor, 2004.
Featured Soloist at the University of Montana Band Festival, Steve Bolstad conductor, 2005.
Featured Soloist with the University of Manatoba Jazz Ensemble at the Winnipeg Optimist Jazz Festival, 2004-2005.
Featured Soloist the the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, Joel Revson, conductor, Feb. 2000.
Featured performer at the 13th World Saxophone Congress in Minneapolis, MN, August, 2003.
Featured performer at the 12th World Saxophone Congress in Montreal, Canada, August, 2000.
Featured Soloist at the 1998 North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) National Convention in Evanston, Ill. Performed Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra by Kirk O'Riordan.
Featured Soloist the the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, Joel Revson, conductor, January 1998.
Featured soloist with orchestra at the 1997 11th World Saxophone Congress in Valencia, Spain. Performed, Prelude, Cadence et Finale, by Alfred Desenclos.
Performed with the Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet at the 11th World
Saxophone Congress in Valencia, Spain. Performed David Stock's Sax Appeal.
Featured Soloist with the Concordia College Symphony Orchestra tour of
Minnesota and Wisconsin, October - November 1996, and Concordia College
Symphony Orchestra during the 1997 summer tour of Europe -- including
concerts in Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, and Kassell.
World premiere of Larry Bell's MAHLER IN BLUE LIGHT, for saxophone, cello, and piano. December 8, 1996, Moorhead, MN.
1996 Tour of Italy with The Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet, including Portico, Bologna, and the Ravenna Music Festival.
1996 Tour of Canada with Sax Overseas, international saxophone
quartet, including Edmonton, Calgary, and Red Deer.
Solo recitals in Stuttgart (Germany) and Wurzburg (Germany), April,
1996.
Featured soloist with the L'Orchestra de la Suisse Romande (Switzerland),
Collegium Musicum Basel (Switzerland), 1995.
1996 tour of Italy with The Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet, including The
Ravenna Music Festival.
1995 tour of Cyprus and Italy with The Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet, including Faenza,
Tredozio, Ferrara, Agia Napa, Limassol, Polis, Pathos.
1994 tour of Italy and Cyprus with The Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet, including Faenza,
Porto San Giorgio, Marradi, Cervia, Pathos, Agia Napa, Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca.
Performer at the 10th International Saxophone Congress held in Pesaro, Italy, 1992.
1996 Tour of Central Canada with Sax-Overseas, international saxophone quartet, including
Edmonton, Calgary, and Red Deer.
1994, New Music & Art Festival, Bowling Green State University. Performance of David
Stock's SAX APPEAL by The Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet.
Series of multi-media concerts in Washington D.C. with Etienne Rolin, French
composer/saxophonist/painter, including concert at French Embassy, November, 1993.
Series of 30 Young Person Concerts with The Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet 1993-1995 (including schools and museums in Cleveland, Dayton and Toledo).
Tour of Ohio and Pennsylvania with international saxophone quartet Sax-Overseas, and
Etienne Rolin, 1993, including, Youngstown State University, Allegheny College,
Ashland University, Hiram College and McDonough Art Museum.
Performed with The Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet in the 1994 North American
Saxophone Alliance Convention in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Performer at the 10th International Saxophone Congress held in Pesaro, Italy, 1992,
European premier performance of David Maslanka's Sonata for alto saxophone and piano.
Tour of Southern France with L'Orchestra du Conservatoire de Bordeaux, 1992.
Has Performed with: Phil Woods, Manhattan Transfer, Dave
Weckle, Peter Erskin, Henry Mancini, Gregg Bissonette, Ray Charles,
Wayne Newton, Bill Watrous, Gregg Field, Frankie Valie and the 4
Seasons, Maureen McGovern, Samuel Sanders, The Eroica Trio, Frankie
Avalon, Alex Acuna, Nick Brignola, Zoro, Ignacio Berroa, Terri Lyne
Carrington, the Four Tops.
Former member of: Kind of Blue Jazz Quintet 1988-1991, Youngstown State University
Jazz Ensemble 1987-1991, The 4-Peace Jazz Saxophone Quartet, The Fat Tuesday Big
Band (with Ernie Krivda), The Ridge St. Jazz Saxophone Quartet, Bowling Green Grad.
Jazz Sextet, The jazz arts big band of Fargo-Moorhead. Currently peforming with the Concordia College Faculty Jazz Quartet, the Hard
Bop saxophone quartet, Russ Peterson and the Funk Commission.
Recitals at: Youngstown State University, Ohio 1988-93; Willoughby Fine Arts Center,
Ohio 1988; Bordeaux, France 1993; Pesaro, Italy 1992; Bowling Green State University,
Ohio 1993-5; Capital University, Ohio 1995; Lawrence University, Wisconsin 1995-1996;
New Mexico State University 1995; Albuquerque, New Mexico 1995; Oberlin
Conservatory of Music, Ohio 1995; Toledo University, Ohio 1995-96; Northwestern
University, Illinois 1995; Edmonton, Canada 1996; Geneva, Switzerland 1995;
Concordia College, Moorhead MN 1996-2006; North Dakota State University, Fargo ND 1996-2006;
Northern State University, 1998; University of North Dakota, 2001; Bemidji State University, MN 2003, 2006.
Orchestral Experience
Bassoonist with:
The Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra (1996-)
Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, (1989-1996)
Greenville Symphony
Warren Chamber Orchestra
MSFO Chautauqua New York
Dana Chamber Orchestra
Bowling Green Symphony Orchestra
Youngstown State Symphonic Orchestra
Adrian Symphony Orchestra
Lima Symphony Orchestra
L'Orchestra National de Bordeaux Aqutain.
Toledo Symphony
Bowling Green Philharmonic Orchestra
L'orchestra du Conservatoire National de Region de Bordeaux
Competitions/Awards
Winner of the Concours D'Excution Musicale Geneve - 1995 (Geneva International Saxophone Competition), Geneva, Switzerland, 1995.
First place National Winner of MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) competition solo division, 1995.
Winner of the Contra Cost Chamber Concerto Competition, 2000
First place National Winner of MTNA competition, Chamber Music Division, with The Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet,1995.
Prize Winner in Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, May, 1995, with The Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet.
Winner of Bowling Green State University concerto competition (graduate division), December, 1994.
Semi-Finalist in Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, April, 1994, with The Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet.
Winner of Youngstown State University concerto competition (undergraduate division), 1990.
Performed North American premiere of Ryo Noda's GEN concerto for alto saxophone and wind orchestra
Recipiant of the Concordia College Summer Study Grant (1997), Concordia College Centennial Scholars Grant (1999), Lake Region Arts
Council Small Grant (1999), Lake Region Arts Council Project Grant (2000)
Individual Writing and Arranging
(see complete composition page here)
Trio for Alto Saxophone, Violin, and Piano-
3 mvt. piece (ca. 18 min) commissioned by the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony
orchestra for their chamber music series. Premiered with Eric
Grossman, violin; Jay Hershberger, piano; Russ Peterson, sax 2007.
Tu-boda -
Commissioned by Laura Goucher and the 7th-8th grand band at Mounds Park
Acadamy in St. Paul, MN. Written to Feature Deanna Swoboda on
Tuba. Premiered at the 2007 Minn. Music Ed. Convention in
Minneapolis
Between Two Cultures - 3 mvt. piece (ca. 23 min) commissioned by the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony orchestra Sept., 2005.
Mid-West Caprice #1, for solo saxophone, Oct. 2005
Life of King David: Concerto for Marimba and band premiered Nov., 2004
Sonata for alto saxophone and piano premiered Oct. 5, 2003
Quintet for Alto Saxophone and strings premiered Oct. 5, 2003
Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra (2002) premiered April, 2002 with David Eyler, timpani, Joel Revson, conductor, and the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra.
Summertime
(2002) for saxophone choir (12 saxes) and solo alto saxophone,
premiered Summer, 2002 with John Sampen, saxohphone, Marco Albonetti,
conductor, at the 2002 Faenza International Saxophone Festival (Italy)
Tornado of 1919, (for concert band) commissioned by the Fergus Falls High school band. (2000)
Arrangement for solo alto saxophone and orchestra of Prelude, Cadence et Finale, by Alfred Desenclos, 1995.
Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra
(1999) premiered February, 2000 with Russell Peterson, saxohphone, Joel
Revson, conductor, and the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra.
Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Percussion Orchestra
(2000) premiered December, 2000 with Russell Peterson, saxohphone,
David Eyler, conductor, and the Tri-College Percussion Ensemble.
Concertino for Alto Saxophone and Young String Orchestra (1998)
Arrangement for solo alto saxophone and wind orchestra of Georgia on My Mind; written for Dr. John Sampen and the Toledo Summer Zoo Band, 1994.
Over 30 arranged and original saxophone quartets.
Over 20 arranged and original jazz quintets.
The Hard-Bop Jazz Saxophone Quartet CD "April in Fargo" (2006)
Russell Peterson's compositions performed by the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony
Russell Peterson's solo CD "AMERICAN BREATH"
The Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet CD "MOUNTAIN ROADS"
The Hard-Bop Jazz Saxophone Quartet CD "Don't Step On Your Neck" (1999)
Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet cassette, 1995.
Richard and Shawn Mathey, Without a Song. With the Great Lakes Aria Orchestra, 1994.
Youngstown State University Jazz Ensemble, Things to Come, 1991.
Youngstown State University Jazz Ensemble, Live at Peabodys Down Under, 1990.
PIK 1 (CBS) ,1994 Performance in Nicosia, Cyprus.
LTV Lumier, 1994 Live Concert in Nicosia, Cyprus.
Cypriot Radio, 1994 Live Performance, Nicosia, Cyprus.
La Radio de la Suisse Romande, 1995 Live Performance, Geneva Switzerland.
New Music Commissioned and/or Premiered
Mike Mower, (England) CONCERTO FOR ALTO SAX AND BAND, (consortium), 2005.
Steve Makela, (USA) SEWER RAT for alto saxophone and computer, 2004.
Liviu Marinescu, (Bulgaria/USA) BACH VARIATIONS for alto saxophone and tape, 2002.
Michael Colgrass, (USA) CONCERTO FOR ALTO SAXOPHONE AND BAND, (consortium), 2001.
David Maslanka, (USA) MOUNTAIN ROADS for saxophone quartet. 1997
Kirk O'Riordan CONCERTO FOR ALTO SAXOPHONE AND ORCHESTRA, 1998.
Dan Bredon, SONATA FOR ALTO SAXOPHONE AND PIANO, 1998.
John Harbison, SONATA FOR ALTO SAXOPHONE AND PIANO, 1995. (consortium)
Larry Bell (USA) MAHLER IN BLUE LIGHT for Alto Saxophone, Cello and Piano, 1996. (consortium)
Michael Kamuf I'LL TELL YOU WHAT for jazz ensebmle, 1997.
Chris Theofandids, NETHERLAND for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra, 1994. (consortium)
Giorgio Babbini (Italy), VARIANTI 95 for Saxophone Quartet, 1995.
Phanos Dymiotis (Greece), BALLAD for Saxophone Quartet, 1995.
Kirk O‰Riordan, SCENES FROM MACBETH for Saxophone Quartet, 1994.
Etienne Rolin (France), SAX-OVER-SEAS, for Saxophone Quartet, 1993.
Greg Wilder, POISON SUMAC for Saxophone Quartet, 1993.
Rachel Manly, FOUR SAXOPHONES, for Saxophone Quartet, 1995.
Rachel Kampf, SCENES ON GENESIS for Saxophone Quartet, 1995.
Edward Wallace, A VIEW OF EDO, for Saxophone Quartet, 1993.
Jennifer Furr, INSOMNIA for Saxophone Quartet, 1995.