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He made his New York Philharmonic debut in 1996, also under the direction of Maestro Masur. Radnofsky made his Carnegie Hall debut some years earlier with the New York premiere of Gunther Schuller's Concerto with the National Orchestral Association. He presented the world premiere of Schuller with the Pittsburgh Symphony, with both of the highly acclaimed performances conducted by the composer. David Amram's concerto, Ode to Lord Buckley, is also dedicated to Radnofsky. Other American composers commissioned by Radnofsky in recent years include Christopher Theofanidis, Larry Bell, Donald Martino, Milton Babbitt, Jakov Jakoulov, and Michael Horvit. He engineered an innovative commission of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Harbison for a sonata, premiered December 3, 1995 by forty-three saxophonists in different locations around the globe. The Harbison commission is one result of an ongoing project organized by Radnofsky entitled World Wide Concurrent Premieres, Inc. (WWCP). Current solo compact disc releases are the Debussy Rhapsody with the New York Philharmonic (Teldec 13133), and Donald Martino's saxophone Concerto (New World 80529-2). In 1991 he was a featured soloist with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra performing Franz Waxman's A Place in the Sun, a work he has also performed frequently with John Williams and the Boston Pops. In the last year his concerts have included performances as soloist with orchestras in Taipei and the People's Republic of China. He has also been touring with his own recital, Music Under Siege, a presentation of works of composers banned by the Nazis - including a performance at the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. He also presented a reprise of the Debussy Rhapsody with the Little Orchestra Society of New York at Alice Tully Hall. He continues to perform, as he has for he past twenty-three years, a saxophonist-on-call for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Concerts this season include Andre Previn's Streetcar Named Desire and Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. Radnofsky realized early that learning is a lifelong process - it doesn't stop on graduation day. While a graduate student at the New England Conservatory, he studied saxophone with the respected teacher and performer Joseph Allard. Mr. Allard continued to be one of Radnofsky's mentors long after he was awarded his diploma. But serious students know that learning comes from many sources. "My postgraduate study, especially since Joe Allard passed away, has been with my students. I not only give, but also receive my lessons, daily, from my students. My friends with whom I perform, and great musical colleagues, especially composers, have helped give direction to my musical life." Some of those friends have written works to help Radnofsky celebrate his first thirty years of teaching. The premiere of these pieces will take place in Pickman Hall at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts on December 5, 1999. It will be recorded for broadcast on the national Public Radio program Performance today. The concert will feature new works by David Amram, Michael Colgrass, Donald Martino, and Gunther Schuller Over the years many students have passed through the saxophone studio of Kenneth Radnofsky. Many more will surely make that same journey in the next thirty years. All the good saxophone teachers accomplish much more with their students than simply training them how to play the instrument. Much of what establishes the reputation of our historically important teachers are the other subjects explored in the studio during lessons, master classes, and even through informal conversations. Students quickly identify the teachers who care about them. Teachers who know their subject matter, know how to communicate this knowledge, and who also care about the artistic, professional, and personal development of a student are the ones who earn the label of "good teacher." Some would say that there is no higher sign of respect for a teacher than to have earned that simple moniker. Robert Freeman, former President of the New England Conservatory and former Director of the Eastman School of Music believes that Radnofsky has earned the respect of his students. "Kenneth Radnofsky is not only a wonderful artist but a fine teacher who cares deeply and imaginatively about the future of music and our country. Articulate, enthusiastic, and a man of integrity, Radnofsky represents music in general and the saxophone in particular on the highest possible level." Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Next
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