UW Music Department Presents Guest Saxophone, Piano Recital Sept. 12

The University of Wyoming Department of Music will present a guest recital with Peter Sommer, alto saxophone, and Timothy Burns, piano, Thursday, Sept. 12.

The recital, which is free and open to the public, is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts recital hall. 

The recital will feature “Sonata in C# for Saxophone and Piano” by Decruck; “Sonata for Saxophone and Piano” by Denisov; “Croquembouches for Saxophone and Piano” by Delvincourt; and “Pradakshina, Sonata for Saxophone” by James David.

Since establishing himself among the Denver-area’s elite jazz musicians, Sommer has contributed his energetic tenor playing and creative spirit to a wide variety of musical projects ranging from mainstream bebop to avant garde and beyond at venues across the nation and around the world.

He has released five albums as a leader. “Happy-Go-Lucky Locals” (2017) features his working septet of Front Range jazz masters playing original arrangements and compositions inspired by legends of the art form.

Sommer is a regular member of several bands, including the Ben Markley Big Band, featuring Markley, UW director of Jazz Studies. He performs often as a soloist, in duo with jazz piano legend Art Lande and as a leader of his own septet and quartet. He also is active as a concert saxophonist.

Sommer is an associate professor of jazz studies and saxophone at Colorado State University (CSU), and he serves as the Woodwind Area and Jazz Area coordinator for the School of Music, Theatre and Dance.

Pianist Burns is a versatile performer and collaborator, with significant instrumental, vocal and choral accompanying experience.

Burns has performed in a variety of collaborative and solo settings throughout the United States and Canada. He has worked with renowned choral conductors and has performed at well-known venues across the country.

Burns has served as staff accompanist for several national and international competitions, including the 2017 International Horn Competition of America. As an avid supporter for new and current music, Burns has performed works by various current composers with numerous premiere performances. He has appeared as a collaborative artist in a concert series and a festival.

Burns is a dedicated educator, serving as instructor of collaborative piano, chamber music and music theory, in addition to piano accompanying duties. He has held summer residencies at various schools across the country. Currently, he serves as supervisor of piano accompanying at CSU.

For more information, call Kathy Kirkaldie, UW Fine Arts coordinator, at (307) 766-2160 or email kirisk@uwyo.edu.