Saxophone Virtuoso Arno Bornkamp to perform at UGA

As part of “A Gathering at the Hugh: Celebrating the Composition and Commissioning Process, Wind Ensemble and Saxophone,” the Hugh Hodgson School of Music (HHSOM) will be hosting international saxophone virtuoso Arno Bornkamp from Holland. The international artist concert will feature Bornkamp, along with guest pianist Casey Dierlam. The concert is scheduled for Sunday, March 4th at 3 pm in Edge Hall.

“The audience will hear unforgettable artistry paired with his charismatic and captivating stage presence.  Arno is one of the most revered classical saxophonists in the world today,” stated Connie Frigo, Associate Professor of saxophone at UGA.

The program Bornkamp will be performing, entitled “Crossing,” features music from all across the globe, including pieces from France (Florent Schmitt), Holland (Guillermo Lago), United States (John Williams), Japan (Jun Nagao), and Argentina (Astor Piazzolla).

“Arno Bornkamp's artistry is uniquely creative and imaginative.  He breathes personality and spark into every note he plays.  He does not travel often to the United States, so it is a very special privilege for us to host him for the weekend,” says Frigo.

Arno Bornkamp, hailing from Amsterdam, Holland, is a renowned saxophone performer, as well as teacher, leading an international saxophone class at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. He has been praised as being “the archetype of the modern virtuoso, feeling equally at home in traditional and contemporary repertoire…a lyrical musician with a great sense of performance.” Bornkamp has played with orchestras around the world in over two hundred concerts since his solo debut in 1982 in Rome. As a companion to his solo career, Bornkamp is also a member of the Aurelia Saxophone Quartet, which feeds his great love of chamber music. Since 1990, he has recorded many CDs on various labels that have claimed both national and international recognition. In addition to Bornkamp’s many musical endeavors, in November 2014, he created SAX14, which is a huge, multidisciplinary saxophone festival in Amsterdam celebrating the 200th birthday of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone.   

Guest pianist Casey Dierlam, an active collaborative pianist, will be accompanying Bornkamp in the recital. A recipient of the Urbana (IL) Public Arts Grant, Dierlam also won first prize at the Rose Petroff College Piano Competition in San Antonio, TX, as well as the “21st Century Piano Commission Competition” at the University of Illinois. Dierlam regularly performs for student and guest artist recitals throughout the Midwest, and is the collaborative piano coordinator for the North American Saxophone Alliance conference.  She has collaborated with the likes of many internationally renowned saxophonists, such as Claude Delangle, Branford Marsalis, Debra Richtmeyer, Kenneth Tse, and now Arno Bornkamp.

In addition to their recital, Bornkamp will also be giving a masterclass on Saturday, March 3rd from 1 pm – 3 pm in Edge Hall, which is free and open to the public.

This concert is one to not be missed, and is free and open to the public. For more information about this concert and the rest of the events happening throughout the weekend, please visit music.uga.edu/gathering-hugh. Questions about the recital or masterclass should be directed to Connie Frigo at cfrigo@uga.edu.