Ensembles
BYU-Idaho offers many ensembles that both majors and minors can participate in. Below are all that apply to saxophone players.
Symphony Band
The Symphony Band is BYU-Idaho's elite woodwind, brass, and percussion ensemble. This concert band tours domestically and internationally, and is open to both majors and nonmajors. An audition is required.
Jazz Lab Band
The Jazz Lab Band (or Jazz Ensemble 2) is a large ensemble designed to teach the fundamentals of jazz. It is available to majors and non-majors, and requires an audition.
Sound Alliance
Sound Alliance (or Jazz Ensemble 1) is BYU-Idaho's premiere jazz ensemble. The group performs a variety of styles from Duke Ellington to Maria Schneider. Sound Alliance performs with major guest artists every year, most recently Jeff Hamilton, Vincent and Derrick Gardner, Benny Green, and Wycliff Gordon. The group tours every other year, domestically and internationally. The ensemble requires an audition and is open to both majors and nonmajors.
Saxophone Ensemble
The Saxophone Ensemble focuses on classical repertoire, giving students the opportunity to play challenging music in an ensemble situation. Students are organized in quartets and large ensembles, which include instrumentation from bass saxophone through sopranino. Ensembles rehearse twice per week. The Saxophone Ensemble performs its own mid-semester recital, Saxophone Master Classes, joint Woodwind Master Classes, Saxophone Studio Recital, student senior recitals, and other occasions as opportunity permits. The group is open to any saxophonist who wishes to participate. No audition is required.
Jazz Combos
Jazz Combos provide students an opportunity to develop jazz art performance skills in the context of a smaller group. Students develop improvisational skills and are guided in composition and arranging for the small jazz ensemble. Groups are organized by audition and are open to music majors and non-majors.
University Band
The University Band is a woodwind, brass, and percussion ensemble open to all BYU-Idaho Students who would like to participate in the music program. This concert band does not require auditions.