Lenoir Sax | Group Biography Page

The Lenoir Saxophone Ensemble has been around since its inception in 1992 spreading the wonders of the saxophone quartet to as many places and ears as possible. Lenoir Saxophone Ensemble combined all its forces together a few years back and become LSE, Inc.-a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the underserved and underprivileged. They perform many concerts a year to this effect and work along side the public school systems to help enhance the school arts programs. Below you will find a listing of some of the things this quartet has accomplished. Also, listed near the bottom of the page are the individual biographies of each of the performers.

PAST PERFORMANCES

- Opening for the North Carolina Symphony at Lenoir's Parkfest
- Hosting the semiannual SaxFest Clinic/Concert. The event always features the world renowned tenor sax virtuoso James Houlik.
- Opening for the Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey Bands
- Opening for the Western Piedmont Symphony outdoor concerts
- Television feature on the saxophone for Children's TV in Spartanburg, SC
- Television appearances on Caldwell County's "Music With..." Series
- Performing with the Nuclear Whales Saxophone Orchestra at Lenoir's JE Broyhill Civic Center
- Performing with the Unifour Brass Ensemble for Sax & Brass Concert at Lenoir's JEBCC
- Concerts for the Wintersun Concert Series in Fairview, NC
- Several live radio performances on public radio station WETS in Johnson City, TN. The one-hour program of music and interview Studio One airs on Saturdays at noon. The recorded show was broadcast on public radio in Scotland as part of a musical heritage exchange program.
- Residency: the Musicians of Caldwell Concert and In-School Residency sponsored by the Caldwell Arts Council. The series also featured Mike Cross, Etta Baker, Puddingstone and Strictly Clean and Decent.
- Performance for Music at Calvary, a concert series at Calvary Episcopal Church in Cincinnati, OH.
- Performances at Montreat College Chapel of the Prodigal recital series
- Performance with Western Piedmont Symphony at the Carolina Christmas concert.
- Several in-school residencies and performances from elementary to collegiate level.

RECENT ACTIVITIES

Over the past few years LSE has been busy commissioning and performing works, including a few from nationally known composers Frank Graham Stewart and J. Mark Scearce. Another recording was recently added to LSE's cap when they recorded the holiday album Christmas... Classically Cool. Several new arrangements were created by the members of the group for this specific purpose. Even more arrangements are coming from within the group as time goes on. Appearances on radio and television have kept the Boys From Lenoir at the forefront of the musical public. More projects are in the making and news will be posted as it is available.

Back in Y2K, LSE traveled to Austria to represent the United States in Bad Ischl's KaiserFest, an annual cultural festival that draws over 25,000 people to the Upper Austrian town near Salzburg in the Salzkammergut region. Before invading Mozart's homeland with their eclectic blend of American classics, they played on a live performance on National Public Radio with a one-hour program of music and interview called Studio One. The group also had the privilege of performing with the Loonis McGlohan Trio and the Asheville Symphony at Brevard Music Center's Summer Serenade Concert. And, in the fall of that same year, LSE gave a memorable performance at The American Guild of Organist's Pipes Spectacular concert in Raleigh, NC - coined the world's largest pipe organ concert and part of a global concert day. The year was concluded with A Caldwell Christmas-a holiday concert with a swinging beat, also featuring jazz drummer and recording artist Rick Dilling. The concert was programmed with holiday favorites arranged by Hollywood jazz composer Lennie Niehaus and some of our own unique arrangements.

Design of the new website has also taken up a considerable amount of time for the group as articles and research has been done to make a well-roudned informational website for saxophonists all over the world. The history of the saxophone is featured alongside mini-masterclasses and online tutorials which offer help for individuals whether beginner or seasoned pro. More articles and historical facts, figures, and photographs are to be posted.

RECORDINGS

The group's first CD, Wade in the Water, was made possible by a NC Grass Roots Grant and featured Appalachian hymns and Spirituals. LSE's second CD, Fascinatin' Rhythms, is a collection of live recordings in various styles of jazz, blues, and ragtime, and featuring many of the arrangements made popular by the Hollywood Saxophone Quartet. Christmas... Classically Cool is LSE's third outing featuring Christmas tunes in settings both familiar and not so familiar. Everything from Baroque to Bop is covered in this wonderful collection of yule time favorites. LSE's recordings have been featured on local NPR stations such as WETS, WDAV, and WNCW - as well as Scottish NPR stations.

INDIVIDUAL BIOGRAPHIES

Robert George, soprano/alto saxophones-When he's not performing with Lenoir Sax, Robert performs with the Lenoir-Rhyne Concert Band, the Western Piedmont Symphony, and Jazz and Dixieland Combos in the region and is the recipient of two Emerging Artists Awards from the Caldwell Arts Council. He has studied with world famous classical performer James Houlik of Duesquene University and Todd Wright, of Appalachian State University. He is also a professional furniture designer.

Dr. David Kirby, alto saxophone-David is a classically trained clarinetist and woodwind specialist. He holds a BM degree (Music Education) from Appalachian State University and MM and DMA degrees (Clarinet) from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Ronald de Kant. David is a former Artist-in-Residence (with the Antares Wind Quintet) for the NEA Chamber Music Rural Residency program in Dodge City, Kansas. After serving as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands and Woodwind Specialist at Brevard College for many years, he has moved on to teaching high school band at South Stokes High School near Winston-Salem, NC. Some of the awards he has received are the Pendleton and Sprinkle Faculty Awards at Brevard College and Regional Artist Project Grant from the Transylvania County Arts Council. He performs with the Western Piedmont Symphony, the Asheville Symphony, and the Mountain Chamber Players and was previously on the summer faculty of the Brevard Music Center.

Alan Moore, tenor saxophone-Alan grew up singing in gospel quartets before focusing on the saxophone as a performance medium. His background in vocal performance brings a unique perspective to the group's work in the instrumental field. He has competed in numerous Jazz Ensemble competitions and also performs regularly with The Little Big Band, a local swing/big band. He has performed in masterclasses with James Houlik, Joe Temperly, and Ernie Watts. Alan also works as an advertising agent in Hickory, NC and the surrounding areas.

Michael Myers, baritone saxophone-Michael holds AFA and BA degrees in Music from Brevard College. He has performed in masterclasses with Ernie Watts, Chris Potter, Ronald Rudkin, James Kaylyn, Bob Mintzer, and Jeff Kirk. He has also studied with James Houlik and Lloyd Weinberg and has performed with Ed Shaughnessy of the Tonight Show Band, Chris Vadala of the Chuck Mangione Band, Lenny Pickett of SNL fame, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, the Four Tops, and Barbara McNair to name a few. He has also been awarded a Regional Artist Project Grant from the Transylvania County Arts Council. Apart from also performing with several jazz and rock groups and being in the pits, so to speak, of several different musical theatre groups, Michael is a commercial composer whose work has been commissioned by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He also teaches music and woodwinds both in-school and privately and is the webmaster for LenoirSax.org and works his day gig with the Asheville Citizen-Times as their online producer/designer and programmer.

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Composers/Arrangers - click for info