GREENVILLE, Pa.—Harmonic saxophone group Aruna Quartet performs at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 at Thiel College’s David Johnson Memorial Chapel as part of the College’s Con Spirito Chamber Music Series. The concert is free and open to the public.
Aruna was awarded the Gold Medal and Grand Prize at the 46th Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Since forming at Texas Tech University in the Fall of 2015, the Aruna Quartet has performed a wide range of traditional and contemporary repertoire. The quartet comprises William Pyle, Ryan Hill, Tony Guzman and Andrew Schoen.
The Aruna Quartet is a prizewinner in national and international competitions including the MTNA National Competition, the Coltman Competition, The American Prize, and the ENKOR competition. In addition to their competition performances, the Aruna Quartet regularly performs recitals at universities, public schools and conferences including those held by the North American Saxophone Alliance and the Texas Music Educators Association.
Most recently, Aruna was invited to perform and teach at the 2019 Asia Pacific Saxophone Academy, which was held at Rangsit University in Bangkok, Thailand. At Texas Tech University, the quartet is coached by Professor of Saxophone David Dees. They received additional instruction by legendary saxophone pedagogue Frederick L. Hemke at the 2018 Snow Pond Music Festival in Sydney, Maine.
The Fischoff Competition is the largest chamber music competition in the nation and its longest consecutively running competition. Each year, an average of 125 ensembles, representing 22 nationalities, enter in either the wind or string categories. Since its founding, more than 6,800 musicians have participated, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in music performance and education.
Annually, the winner of the Fischoff Competition performs in the Glenn Johnson Memorial Chapel as a part of the Con Spirito series.
In 2007, the tradition of musical excellence started when LaVonne H’16 and the late Glen R. Johnson H’88, in honor of their late daughter, created the series to bring top musical talent to Thiel College and the region. Con Spirito is just one of the offerings at Thiel that connects the college to the regional arts community. The series has hosted free concerts that are open to the public on the Thiel campus in Greenville since 2007. Additional performances for the 2019-2020 academic year are the Rose Ensemble on Thursday, Nov. 7 and the New Orford String Quartet on Monday, Mar. 9. Both concerts begin at 7 p.m.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.