Donnie Norton, saxophone
The Department of Music at Gustavus will present a combined faculty recital with saxophonist Donnie Norton and pianist Esther Wang on Monday, October 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Björling Recital Hall. This recital, one of the Department’s Colloquium Series, is free and open to the public.
The faculty duo will open the recital with Bernhard Heiden’s Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano, followed by the seven-movement Picnic on the Marne by Ned Rorem. Rorem wrote his Picnic from his memories of a 1956 visit to Paris. The scenes in the composition include “Driving from Paris,” “Vermouth,” “A Tense Discussion,” and “Making Up.” After a short intermission, Norton & Wang will return to the Björling stage to perform William Albright’s Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano.
Donnie Norton is in his second year as adjunct instructor at Gustavus, where he teaches saxophone, jazz combos, and world music. Prior to moving to Minnesota, he taught at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, the Northern Illinois University Community School of the Arts, St. Charles North High School in St. Charles, IL, and at the summer jazz camps of Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, and the Birch Creek Music Performance Center. Donnie has performed in numerous settings as a leader, sideman, and ensemble member, in genres that include jazz, classical, rock, pop, various styles of world music, and musical theater. He holds degrees from the University of Northern Colorado, the New England Conservatory, and Northern Illinois University.
Esther Wang, piano
Esther Wang, pianist, is an associate professor at Gustavus and an active soloist and collaborator throughout the United States who has appeared on numerous concert series, including the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts in Chicago and the A. Mozart Fest Series in Austin, TX. She received the Bachelor of Music at Baylor University and continued her studies at the University of Cincinnati, earning the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. Wang is an enthusiastic teacher and adjudicator. She has served on faculties at St. Olaf College, The University of Texas at Austin, University of WI-Oshkosh, University of WI-Platteville, Baylor University, Northeast MO State University, Northern Kentucky University, Lutheran Summer Music, the New England Music Camp, and Neighborhood Music School in New Haven, CT. She performs and lectures on J.S. Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier as a member of The Bach Four and has recorded solo and chamber works by Jan Radzynski on the Centaur label. In the summers, she teaches at the Interlochen Arts Camp and the Adamant Music School (VT).
This combined faculty recital featuring saxophonist Donnie Norton and pianist Esther Wang will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, October 17 in Björling Recital Hall. This recital, one of the Department’s Colloquium Series, is free and open to the public.