UW-Whitewater Virtual Saxophone Day

From his 30+ million views across social media to his appearance on international television and NPR’s   Weekend Edition, Billboard-charting saxophonist/innovator Derek Brown and his one-of-a-kind solo   “BEATBoX SAX” project has been exploding across the world music scene.

As described by jazz journalist/historian Scott Yanow, "Brown performs unaccompanied solos that   occasionally make one recall Bobby McFerrin in his early prime and the great saxophonist Eddie Harris . . .   utilizing slap-tonguing, circular breathing, a wide interest in musical styles and dazzling coordination to create   rather unique music." 

 Derek has performed solo concerts in all 50 United States and over 25 countries around the world (almost 200   total international shows)! Known for his boundless energy on stage, creative audience interaction, and       musical depth, Derek’s live shows always surprise and delight. His ongoing “BEATBoX SAX” music videos and tutorials on YouTube have been enormously popular among saxophonists and music lovers alike (over 150,000 Youtube subscriptions), leading to endorsements with Legere, JodyJazz, P.Mauriat, BG France, and AKG.

Previously the director of jazz studies at Abilene Christian University for six years, Derek received his BM in Music Performance (Classical and Jazz) from Hope College in 2006 and his MM in Jazz Studies at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music in 2008.

Crossing genres from jazz to classical to funk, without looping or electronic effects, saxophone innovator Derek Brown’s unique playing style must be seen in person to be believed!

Saxophonist Matt Sintchak is an avid supporter of contemporary music, having commissioned/premiered over 50 works. In addition to solo concerts, he performs regularly with the Ancia Saxophone Quartet (based in Minneapolis), the Fuse Trio (saxophone, clarinet, and piano), the Sonict Duo (saxophone, video, and electronics), and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Performances have taken him throughout the US, Canada, China, Japan, Korea, and Europe. As a jazz musician, he has recently collaborated with Roscoe Mitchell, Ray Anderson, David Bixler, Ingrid Jensen, Dean Sorenson, and Paul Tynan, among others. He has performed in a variety of venues from the Twin Cities Jazz Festival (St. Paul, MN) to the London Jazz Festival (England).

Sintchak studied at the Eastman School of Music (DMA, MM, Performer’s Certificate), the Paris Conservatory, and the New England Conservatory (BM). He is a Conn-Selmer and Vandoren artist and has recorded for the Naxos, Innova, Albany, University of Iowa Composers’ and Zimbel labels. Sintchak is the Professor of Saxophone at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Michael Hackett is a performer, teacher, and adjudicator with a wide variety of credits. As a performer, Dr. Hackett has performed in some of the most important musical venues in the world, ranging from Lincoln Center, Birdland, and The Apollo Theater in New York City, to the Kennedy Center and Blues Alley in Washington, DC. His playing is featured in numerous commercially available recordings with large ensembles such as The Scott Whitfield Jazz Orchestra and the Buselli/Wallarab Jazz Orchestra and many television and radio comercials.

Dr. Hackett's first solo recording, "Circles," was released on Summit Records in 2005, and his second, "New Point of View," was released on Summit in 2013. Both were well received in reviews published in All About Jazz and Jazz Review and each spent several weeks in the Jazz Week charts representing extensive airplay on jazz radio. Hackett recieved his Doctorate of Music from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Brass Pedagogy and earned an MM and BM in Jazz Studies from the same. His principal teachers include William Adam, John Rommel, and Joey Tartell in trumpet, and David Baker and Patrick Harbison in jazz. He has previously served on the faculties of Butler University, The Ohio State University, Indiana State University, and most recently was Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Jazz at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Michael Hackett is an endorsing artist for Powell Trumpets and performs exclusively on a hand crafted custom instrument made by Fred Powell.

Austin Kappel graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the Spring of 2019 with a degree in Music Education while studying saxophone under Matt Sintchak. During his time in Whitewater, he got to work with some other great saxophonists including Otis Murphy and Kenneth Tse. He is a member of the CATA Saxophone Quartet, playing alto saxophone. This group has toured across the state of Wisconsin, and performed at the North American Saxophone Alliance Regional Conference. Currently he is a High School Band Teacher at Antigo High School, teaching a wide variety of classes.

Callie Barbeau graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, jazz certificate, and a Spanish minor. During her undergraduate career, Ms. Barbeau was awarded three research grants for both education, and performance based projects, and presented at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research three years in a row. Previous performance highlights include: performing in Austria and the Czech Republic with the UW-Whitewater Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and performing alongside Wild Space Dance Company in Milwaukee, WI for their sold out show "Into the Garden."

She currently performs on saxophone with the Fond du Lac Symphonic Band and the Lighthouse Big Band, and teaches band and general music at Sabish Middle School in Fond du Lac, WI.