Dr. Ron Crocker
Kearney Symphony Orchestra director, 308.865.8618
The Kearney Symphony Orchestra (KSO) will present two concerts with a French theme this week, one tonight at The Tassel in Holdrege and the second at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night in the University of Nebraska at Kearney Fine Arts Recital Hall.
Both concerts will feature Dr. David Nabb, UNK professor of music, on the one-handed saxophone. Dr. Nabb will perform two selections with the orchestra, “Blue Caprice” and Liebesleid,” on his one-handed saxophone. After surviving a stroke in 2000, Dr. Nabb, along with Jeff Stelling of Kearney, developed a saxophone that can be played with only the right hand.
“It’s my desire to make his performance the focus of the program, because of his unique life story and the fascinating account of how he and Jeff Stelling ‘invented’ the instrument,” said Dr. Ron Crocker, director of the Kearney Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Nabb has demonstrated his right-handed saxophone in solo performances at the World Saxophone Congresses held in Minneapolis, Slovenia and Thailand, and at other professional conferences including the International Saxophone Symposium, the annual American Music Therapy Association Conference and the Biennial Conference of the North American Saxophone Alliance.
He has performed professionally on all of the woodwind instruments throughout the United States, Europe and in Asia.
More information about Dr. Nabb and the UNK One-Handed Woodwinds Program can be found at:http://onehandwinds.unk.edu/founder.htm
The concert will open with a Georges Bizet piece titled, “Carmen Suite No. 1.” Among the other selections being performed are “Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte” by Ravel, “Hungarian March” by Berlioz, “Symphony No. 2 in D” by Gounod and “Orpheus in the Underworld Overture” by Offenbach.
According to Dr. Crocker, the Kearney Symphony Orchestra is an organization for any string, wind, brass and percussion players who want to perform and continue to improve musically. The orchestra provides symphonic concerts and activities for university and community members in central Nebraska, while providing opportunities for members of the community, university and other students to participate in a symphony orchestra. The orchestra has members of all ages.
General admission tickets are $8 for the general public and free for UNK students and faculty. Reservations can be made by contacting the UNK Box Office at 308.865.8417 from 12:30-5 p.m., Monday-Thursday, or 12-4 p.m. on Friday. Tickets can also be purchased one hour before the performance or by email at boxoffice@unk.edu.
