Summary: The Barry Sax Show. About Tim: Soprano chair of the renowned PRISM Quartet and internationally-acclaimed soloist, Timothy McAllister has been hailed as a “virtuoso…one of the foremost saxophonists of his generation” (The New York Times). Since his solo debut at age sixteen with the Houston Civic Symphony, his career has taken him throughout the world, with solo performances in such venues as Prince Royal Albert Hall in London, the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.<br> <br> McAllister has premiered over 200 new works by today’s most eminent and emerging composers ranging from solo compositions to saxophone quartets and chamber works. In 2009, he appeared as saxophonist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the Gala concert performing the world premiere of Pulitzer Prize and multiple Grammy-winning composer John Adams’ major work, City Noir. In 2017 he performed the work with the famed Berlin Philharmonic, which appeared on the Digital Concert Hall and he recorded for the Berlin Philharmonic’s “John Adams Edition” anthology.<br> <br> In August 2013, McAllister gave the World Premiere of John Adams’ Saxophone Concerto with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under the baton of the composer in the Sydney Opera House. This work was recorded for Nonesuch Records and the St. Louis Symphony, which won the 2015 GRAMMY Award for Best Orchestral Performance.<br> <br> A dedicated teacher, McAllister spends his summers as a distinguished Valade Fellow/Instructor of Saxophone for the Interlochen Center for the Arts and has served as a Guest Professor at the famed Paris Conservatoire. In 2014 he was appointed Associate Professor of Saxophone at The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance, following the legacies of Larry Teal and Donald Sinta, after holding the same post at Northwestern University, succeeding the legendary Frederick Hemke.<br> <br> Show Notes: Visiting Australia. Getting started in a school band. The wanted to give me a tuba, but the saxophone was the most interesting and coolest instrument. I grew up in a very competitive environment. The level of playing in Texas schools was very high. BMX biking was more important to me than the saxophone. Learning with my first specialist, Chester Rowell. Hearing recordings of classical saxophone for the first time got me hooked. Hearing John Adam's music for the first time. Planning five years ahead, at least. Learning with Donald Sinta. Learning and now teaching at Interlochen summer camp. Hearing Denisov for the first time. The importance of listening to interments besides saxophone. Recording my first album while still a student. The decreasing worth of recording albums. Completing two masters degrees at the same time. Practising can become stressful. If you can play from memory, you really know a piece. Improvisation is pivotal to music making. Working with jazz artists. Prism Quartet. Admiration for Claude Delangle. Teaching at the Paris Conservatoire for the first time. Being happy to play John Adam's forever. We have to make everyone love the saxophone. We are a wonderful saxophone community. A lot of the most widely played orchestral pieces have saxophone now. More bananas, less coffee. When I play, I am thinking about just the spirit of the music and the person who wrote it. Thoughts on recording. I don't want us to miss out on the greatest composers of today writing for the saxophone. <a href="http://timothymcallister.com">Tim McAllister Website</a>
