Saxophone Students Earn Competitive Awards

The Fall 2011 semester proved to be quite successful for the Truman Saxophone Studio with several of its musicians winning competitive awards.

Truman’s Saxophone Quartet won second place at the Music Teachers National Association Collegiate chamber music competition at Missouri Western University on Nov. 3. The Quartet is comprised of Joel Fischer, soprano saxophone; Tom Bunting, alto saxophone; Olivia Wikle, tenor saxophone; and Shelley Washington, baritone saxophone.

Joel Fischer was named the “State Winner" in the upper division and Joel Gordon the “State Winner” in the lower division of the Collegiate Woodwind Competition.

Stephanie Koltookian was one of three gold medal concerto competition winners and will perform Henri Tomasi’s “Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra” with the Truman Orchestra on March 24. She was recently accepted into four law schools, including the University of Missouri—Columbia and the University of Iowa.

The Saxophone Studio also presented Chloe Bertschi, Alex Buffa, Stephanie Koltookian and Steven Irving in senior recitals.

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The Saxophone Quartet won second place at the Music Teachers National Association Collegiate Chamber Music Competition at Missouri Western University on Nov. 3. Pictured, left to right: Joel Fischer, soprano saxophone; Tom Bunting, alto saxophone; Olivia Wikle, tenor saxophone; and Shelley Washington, baritone saxophone.

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Joel Fischer was named the “State Winner” in the upper division of the
Collegiate Woodwind Competition of the Missouri Music Teachers Association Woodwind
Competition at Missouri Western University on Nov. 4.


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Joel Gordon was named the “State Winner” in the lower division of the
Collegiate Woodwind Competition of the Missouri Music Teachers Association Woodwind
Competition at Missouri Western University on Nov. 4.


stephanie koltookian 1online.jpg
Stephanie Koltookian was one of three Gold Medal Concerto Competition Winners
and will perform Henri Tomasi’s “Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra”
with the Truman State University Orchestra on March 24.


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Randy Smith, professor of music, (center) with saxophone students at fall senior recitals.
Pictured, left to right: Chloe Bertschi,
Steven Irving, Smith, Stephanie Koltookian and Alex Buffa.
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