FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2005

CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119, lisa.lacher@drake.edu

DRAKE UNIVERSITY HOSTS SAXOPHONE CONFERENCE APRIL 8-10

Drake University will host the 2005 North American Saxophone Alliance Region 3 Conference on April 8-10, featuring numerous concerts and master classes, including a performance by renowned jazz saxophonist Dick Oatts.

The conference will begin with a concert on Friday, April 8, by Debra Richtmeyer, professor of saxophone at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne. She will perform John Cheetham's "Concerto Agrariana" with the Drake Wind Symphony. The concert will also feature James Romain, professor of saxophone at Drake, and other guest artists. The performance will begin at 8 p.m. in the Performing Arts Hall, Harmon Fine Arts Center, 25th Street and Carpenter Avenue. Tickets, which are $8 for adults and $6 for students, are available at the Drake Fine Arts Box Office at (515) 271-3841.

Oatts, an Iowa native, will perform a concert with the Drake University Jazz Ensemble I at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 9, in the Performing Arts Hall, Harmon Fine Arts Center. Oatts began his professional music career in the Twin Cities in 1972. He moved to New York City in 1977 to join the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. He has since recorded and toured with numerous groups. Oatts has taught at New York University and has been a member of the Manhattan School of Music faculty since 1989. Tickets, which are $12 for adults and $10 for students, are available through the Drake Fine Arts Box Office.

The conference is made possible by Drake University and an Iowa Arts Council grant.

For more information, call (515) 271-3104 or send an e-mail message to james.romain@drake.edu.

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