Jerusalem Saxophone Quartet

THE JERUSALEM SAXOPHONE ENSEMBLEThe Jerusalem saxophone ensemble is a unique phenomenon in the Israeli music scene because of it's very young members and their professional standard. The ensemble includes a saxophone quartet consisting of young players aged 19 – 24, and a saxophone group of players between 14 and 16 years of age. The quartet members are all students at the jerusalem academy of music; they all served or are serving in the Israeli Defense Forces as outstanding musicians, While the ensemble members are all students at the academy highschool and music conservatory.The ensembles repertoire includes a wide variety of works from the Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods, as well as contemporary amd Israeli music and Jazz. In addition to its permanent repetoire, the ensemble has also played original works written especially for them by contempotaty Israeli copmosers such Michael Wolpe, Yizhak Mizrahi, Dan Deustch, Viachislav Ganelin, Menachem Tzur, Lev Liplavk and Emanuel Wahl.The ensemble was founded in 1994 by Prof. Gersh Geller with it's lineup changing from time to time. All the Ensemble members have won scholarships for the America – Irsael cultural foundation, both as soloists and as ensembles. The members also participate and win prizes in various competitions in Israel and abroad. The quratet has preformed with the Israel philharmonic orchestra, the Jerusalem Symphony orchestra and at various festivals such as the "Voice of Music" festival in the upper Galilee, and the "Desert Sounds" festival. The Quartet preformed at the Kremlin Gala concert in Moscow as part of the 1850th anniversary of the Russian capital. The Quartet has had several tours abroad: in Russia, France, Engaland, the U.S, Scandinavia, Estonia and Kazakhstan. The Quartet has won prizes in Russia and participated in competitions in Belgium and Italy, and has recorded concerts that have been broadcast on the Voice of Music radio station.The Ensemble preforms frequently in benefit concerts such as the Cancer Research Foundation and other philantropic organizations and schools. Since it's inception the ensemble has enjoyed the sponsorship of the conservatory and the Academy of music and dance and since 1996 of the Jerusalem Music Center – "Mishkenot Sha'ananim". The Quartet has recorded 2 CD's at the Jerusalem Music Center: "Saxophones in Jerusalem" including baroque and classical works arranged by Mordechai Rechtman and "Jerusalem Raphsody", the jewish influenced music of Israeli composer Emanuel Wahl.