UMKC’s first-ever fellowship saxophone quartet advanced to the North American Saxophone Alliance’s Collegiate Quartet Competition Semi-Finals, which will take place at Oklahoma State University on March 14.
The UMKC Conservatory students known as “Vent Quartet” will compete against 19 other college quartets from all over the United States and Canada.
Members of the group include Blake Adams on the soprano saxophone, Johnathon Nickell on the alto saxophone, Dawson Coleman on the baritone saxophone and Davis Hale on the tenor.
To prepare for the competition, the quartet spent up to nine and a half hours per week practicing together.
Along with this initial competition, the group is also preparing for various others in 2024, including the 51st annual Fischoff competition in Indiana.
Both Adams and Coleman advanced to the solo semi-finals in the North American Saxophone Alliance’s Collegiate Competition. Adams was also selected for a duet category, which he will be competing in alongside a clarinetist.
“It is a competitive competition,” Adams said. “Getting selected to be able to go there, let alone being able to do stuff with the semi-final and final rounds is an exciting opportunity speaking for all of us.”
Outside of the various competitions, Vent Quartet spends time on various outreach services including private teachings, work with various high school bands and public performances on and off campus.
“It takes up a lot of time, but I feel like it’s very valuable, and UMKC has been very easy to work with getting everything to work with our own schedules,” Hale said.
Spectators can watch Vent Quartet in the Shining a Light Concert, an upcoming on-campus event hosted by the UMKC Music/Media Library,
The concert will be at the Miller-Nichols Learning Center on March 5 and will feature various Conservatory students, composers and performers.
