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General News: Noted Saxophonist at St. John's Concert
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| Lois Hicks-Wozniak |
May 29, 2008
St. John's Episcopal Church Press Release
In commemoration of their 150th anniversary, St. John’s Episcopal Church is preparing for the third concert of its “Celebration Series” on Saturday evening, June 7, 2008 at 7:30pm at the church, located at the corner of Clinton and Hazen Streets in Cornwall, NY. This concert will feature works for soprano and alto saxophone with local Hudson Valley saxophonist, Lois Hicks-Wozniak and Cornwall’s own Ruthanne Schempf on piano. Assisting on the program is William Powers, saxophone and Sarah Levine Simon, soprano vocalist. There is a suggested donation of $7 and a light reception will follow.
The program offers varied musical selections to include the Sonata in A minor for oboe by Telemann, transcribed for soprano saxophone by Jean-Marie Londeix; Fisher Tull’s delightful Sarabande and Gigue; and an intriguing 21st century new work, Tantrum, by female composer Stacy Garrop. This dynamic, multi-movement work includes movements entitled “Obsessive Behavior” and “Fits and Fists.”
Saxophonist William Powers will join Lois Hicks-Wozniak for Paul Hindemith’s alto saxophone duet, Konzertstück (Concert piece). Of particular note is the powerful song cycle by Lori Laitman, I Never Saw Another Butterfly for soprano (voice) and alto saxophone. The text is based upon poems written by children during their incarceration at the Theresienstadt concentration camp and it will feature renowned soprano vocalist, Sarah Levine Simon. Closing out this exciting evening of music will be Jules Demersseman’s firey Introduction and Variations on Carnival of Venice.
Lois Hicks-Wozniak has performed professionally since the age of sixteen as a concert saxophonist. She has studied at the Interlochen Arts Academy, the University of North Texas and Florida State University. At Florida State she completed a bachelor's degree in music performance and continued master studies in saxophone performance and ethnomusicology, serving as graduate teaching assistant in saxophone. Her teachers include Dr. Frederick L. Hemke, Patrick Meighan and Debra Richtmeyer.
Among Mrs. Hicks-Wozniak's many awards is the Special Presentation Winners Recital Series, sponsored by Artists International Presentations. As her prize, she performed her New York Recital Debut at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall.
From 1996-2004 she served active duty in the U.S. Army as a saxophonist with the United States Military Academy Band at West Point and with the West Point Saxophone Quartet. She was a featured soloist at the World Saxophone Congress 2000 in Montreal, where she performed the Glazunov Concerto with the Academy Concert Band and she presented the World Premiere of David Froom's Flying High, written for her, at the World Saxophone Congress 2003 in Minneapolis. She can be heard on the West Point Saxophone Quartet CD, Fault Lines, and her performances have been broadcast on New York public radio.
In November 2007, as a subscription series guest soloist with the Ridgewood (NJ) Concert Band, she presented the east coast premiere (and 2nd performance world-wide) of the John Mackey, Concerto for Soprano Sax and Wind Ensemble. As artist-in-residence at Mississippi State University, she performed the Mississippi premiere of Dream Dancer for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble by Michael Colgrass. In addition she performed Dream Dancer at the North American Saxophone Alliance Region 8 Conference in March 2003.
She is currently principal saxophonist with the Ridgewood (NJ) Concert Band, and she has performed with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic Orchestra, the Newburgh Symphony, the Lawton Philharmonic and the Dallas Wind Symphony, to include their recording, Fiesta!. She maintains an active schedule as a recitalist and clinician, having performed with such groups as the Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan, the Teaneck Community Band and the Westchester Symphonic Winds, and she annually participates in the Hudson Valley BachFest. As a freelance musician, she has shared the stage with diverse acts from Manhattan Transfer to Milton Berle. Additionally, as a vocal soloist she has sung Broadway, pop, country, jazz and light opera selections.
She is currently a stay-at-home mom and resides in West Point, NY with her husband, Matt, a bass trombonist with the USMA Band, and their four children, twin daughters, ages 11 and twin boys, ages 4. She is on the vestry of St. John’s Episcopal Church and she enjoys teaching Sunday school and coordinating the FWF youth group. In her spare time she is an avid runner and gardener.
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