I am very pleased to have 3 of my compositions included in the repertoire list for the new International Saxophone Symposium And Competition (ISSAC).

These compositions are published by and available from Reed Music. Direct links:
Rock Me!
Ku Ku
Beat Me

ISSAC will take place at the Schwob School of Music in the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts in Columbus, Georgia, USA on October 25-28, 2012.

The purpose of ISSAC is to provide an international competition that will take place in North America (in addition to the North American Saxophone Alliance’s Biennial competition) and a new saxophone event for the southeastern region of the United States. ISSAC’s competition will focus on solo classical playing, following the model of the world’s most prestigious solo classical saxophone competitions: the Jean-Marie Londeix International Saxophone Competition in Bangkok, Thailand and Competition Adolphe Sax in Dinant, Belgium.

Composer Matthew Orlovich with Barry Cockcroft

I have just finished a fantastic weekend premiering a new concerto ‘Flying Colours’ by Australian composer Matthew Orlovich.

The US navy band is perhaps the finest concert band in the world and it was fantastic to be able to work with such an amazing group of musicians.

The event was the 35th International Saxophone Symposium and we had about 2,000 in the audience for the concert. Under the fine baton of Commanding Officer Captain Brian Walden, the concert began with the Glinka Overture to Russlan & Ludmilla. I was the first soloist and I had a great time performing Matthew’s new piece. As an encore I performed my own original composition ‘Rock Me‘ which was a lot of fun to play for such a large enthusiastic audience. Afterwards I watched from sidestage as Chien-Kwan Lin performed superbly the first two movements the David Maslanka Concerto.

After interval Senior Chief Musician Tim Roberts performed Demersseman’s Fantasie on an Original Theme and then immediately switched to his Navy band saxophone section quartet to perform the excellent Hoedown by Will Gregory. The final concerto for the evening featured Brandford Marsalis performing Jacob ter Veldhuis‘ ‘Tallahatchee’ Concerto. We all finished with a rousing encore Sir Patrick, written by French Saxophonist Philippe Geiss.

Barry Cockcroft and Branford Marsalis rehearse with the US Navy Band.

I rehearsed for 25 minutes on the first day and then had 15 minutes sound check on the day of the concert. Rehearsing the encore piece with all four soloists and the Navy saxophones was lots of fun!

During the 2nd day of the Saxophone Symposium I performed a solo recital with Navy Band pianist Darrell Partin. We played Matthew Orlovich’s Crazy Logic, one of my favourite pieces and I then performed three of my own compositions including Black & Blue, Ku Ku and Beat Me. I managed to slip in 2 or 3 fantastic jokes that 2 or 3 of the audience members managed to understand! Thanks to Aaron Morneau and Zach Stern for playing in my masterclass that afternoon.

It was a great few days, expertly organised by Tim Roberts and the US is fortunate to have such a well attended saxophone event each year. It was a pleasure to spend time with the founder of the Symposium – Dale Underwood, and can you believe that he has never missed one. I met so many enthusiastic players that I am sure that the next Symposium will be even bigger.

Many thanks to Rico (Reserve Reeds), Selmer and the Australia Council for the Arts for supporting my attendance at this major event.

In July 2011, I will be performing and giving masterclasses for saxophone players at Tutti World Youth Music in Beijing.

Tutti world youth music beijing is an exciting new week long event for school age musicians ands singers from around the world. It will provide the opportunity to enhance and showcase their talents in a non competitive environment and through their love of music to reach out and build friendships across the cultural diversity of the World. To be held in Beijing China over the period 9 – 16 July 2011 tutti world youth music beijng welcomes participation from orchestras, string orchestras/ensembles, symphonic wind bands/brass ensembles and choral groups.

Throughout tutti world youth music beijing participants will undertake a series of masterclasses focusing on technique improvement run by a stellar international faculty. As well all groups will have the opportunity to perform their own chosen repertoire for other participants in a non competitive atmosphere. As Artistic Director Paul Dean will lead the new event. He will inspire you! Paul is one of Australia’s foremost music educators and he promises that the experience of tutti world youth music beijing will be exceptional.

And of course the added bonus is Beijing…a city not only full of history but now pulsating with the surging modernisation that is contemporary China! A city not to be missed.

Tutti world youth music beijng is presented by China Stars Events, an organisation with a reputation for presenting quality events.  The organisers have previously presented the internationally acclaimed Bonyi International Youth Music Festival in Brisbane in 2007.  Having now created our own organisation, we felt that the ideals of that event must not be lost. Thus tutti world youth music bejing has been created to fill this void !! Many of Bonyi’s former faculty are as excited as we are about the new event and so will join us for the adventure.

Remember….the focus will be on learning to play your instrument or sing better.  It is not a competitive event…that is not our philosophy. You will find that this creates an atmosphere of friendship and enjoyment of music far beyond what you have ever experienced.

Other faculty include: Paul Dean, Leesa Dean, Andrew Jarvis, Larry Knopp, Rob McWilliams, Andrew Mogrelia, Graeme Morton, Pat Murphy, Shane O’Shea, Virginia Taylor, Michele Walsh, Jeremy Williams and Yuen Yum San. More information can be found on the Tutti website.