Idit Shner

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IDIT SHNER

Education

2007 Doctor of Musical Arts in Saxophone Performance, Jazz Studies as related

field. University of North Texas – Denton, Texas

2001 Master of Music Education Summa Cum Laude

University of Central Oklahoma – Edmond, Oklahoma

1998 Bachelor of Arts in Saxophone Performance Summa Cum Laude

Oklahoma City University – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Creative Activity: Publications

Compact Disc Recordings

2019 Minerva (OC 33024)

Four newly commissioned pieces; three of which are first recordings.

“My favorite classical release of 2019” – Nick May, the Saxophonist Magazine

“the playing is fantastic (as always!). What a great project from beginning to end”

– Taimur Sullivan, Northwestern University

2017 Nine Short Stories (OA2 22147)

Read Downbeat’s four-star review here

Listen to an interview about the CD on KLCC here

Additional reviews: George Harris, Jazz Weekly; Hobart Taylor, KUCI – Irvine, CA; Chris Spector, Midwest Record

2013 Le merle Noir. Origin Classics (OC 33017).

Received good airplay in the USA and Canada; was featured on Israel Herman’s radio show, “On the Wind.”

2009 Fissures: 20th Century Music for Saxophone and Harp. Origin Classics (OC33008). With Yumiko Endo Schlaffer, harp. The CD features pieces for soprano, alto, tenor, bass saxophone and pedal harp. Repertoire by French, Dutch, Spanish, and American composers. Favorably reviewed by Dr. Joren Cain on The Saxophone Symposium. NPR’s “Morning Edition” of April 29 2010 played two tracks from the CD: Second movement from Jean-Louis Petit’s Sonatine and Benimeli’s Capricho Mediterraneo.

2008 Tuesday’s Blues. Origin’s OA2 label. (OA2 22046).

Album received great reviews on Jazz Times, Jazz Review, and All music Guide.

Received and still receiving airplay on over 41 radio stations around the world.

Book

2009 Music for Saxophone and Harp. ISBN 978-3-8383-2001-4 VDM

Verlagsservicegesellschaft mbH / LAP Lambert Academic Publishing.

Creative Activity: Performances (selected list)

– Classical, recent* –

2020 • Magenta by Evan C Paul, world premiere at North American Saxophone Alliance National Conference in Tempe, AZ

Performed Joel Love’s Solace Concerto with Oregon Wind Ensemble, Dennis Linas, conducting
Performed Pictures at an Exhibition with the Oregon Symphony

2019 • Performed Romeo and Juliet with Orchestra Next

Performed with David Riley, faculty showcase

2018 • Recitals at Virginia Tech, University of North Carolina Greensboro, University of Oregon

Performed and recorded Quicksilver by Stacy Garrop

2017 • Recital of all new commissioned works presented at University of Indiana, Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Linfield College

2016 • Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Band by William Bolcom. With Rodney Dorsey, conductor. 3 performances: in Beall hall, Ashland HS, and at CBDNA in Reno, NV

Minerva by Evan C Paul, world premiere at North American Saxophone Alliance National Conference in Lubbock, TX
Appeared on 2 Faculty recitals in Beall hall, in January and May.

2015 • Numerous performances with the Eugene Symphony: Harbison, Gershwin, Prokofiev, Bernstein, Williams.

Performances with the Eugene Ballet

2014 • Performed a saxophone and harp program in eight different venues in California, Oregon, Washington

Played with the Eugene Symphony and Orchestra NEXT, played Creation du Monde with Oregon Bach Festival in Eugene and Portland
Played with the Oregon Wind Sextet in Eugene and Portland
Gave solo recitals in three leading Iowa universities
Performed at the North American Saxophone Alliance convention in Urbana, IL

2013 • Performed on three different programs with the Eugene Symphony

Played and taught a class at Manhattan School of Music, NYC

2012 • Performed at the North American Saxophone Alliance convention in Arizona

Toured with the Oregon Faculty Wind Quintet in the Seattle area, WA

2011 • Performed the world Premiere of Jean-Louise Petit’s Concerto pour

saxophones with the Oregon Wind Ensemble

Recorded Guy Lacour’s Divertissemnet with the Oregon Percussion

Ensemble (first studio recording of the piece)

Performed Judith Cloud’s Concerto for Soprano saxophone and

Orchestra with the Flagstaff Symphony, Flagstaff, AZ

Performed a solo recital at the Oregon Bach Festival. This was the first

time a saxophonist was invited to play at the festival.

Performed a saxophone and harp recital at the Crane School of Music,

SUNY Potsdam, NY

2010 • Performed at the North American Saxophone Alliance biennial convention in Athens, GA

Founded the Infinity Saxophone Quartet which toured the Pacific Northwest

2009 • Performed a concert of contemporary Music for Two Saxophones in Tel-Aviv

and Ramat Hasharon, Israel. With saxophone virtuoso Gan Lev

Guest Artist for Oklahoma State University’s Wind Day. Three public recitals,

master classes, large ensemble coaching (Stillwater, Oklahoma)

Performed John Mackey’s Concerto for Soprano Saxophone with the University

of Idaho wind ensemble

2008 • Performed John Mackey’s Concerto for Soprano Saxophone with the Oregon Wind Ensemble

Performed classical recital in Fayetteville, North Carolina and at the North

American Saxophone Alliance Convention in Columbia, South Carolina; with pianist Scott Marosek

Performed classical recital in University of Oregon; with pianist David Riley

2007 • Performed Edison Denisov’s Concerto Piccolo at the Northwest Percussion

Festival (Boise, Idaho), North American Saxophone Alliance Region I Meeting (Pulman, Washington), and at University of Oregon

Performed Ida Gotkovsky’s Variations Pathetiques at the North American Saxophone Alliance Region I Meeting (Pulman, Washington), and at University of Oregon

Played clarinet on SoundBytes (new music series), the music of Raymond Scott
Played with the Oregon Symphony (Portland, Oregon)

– Jazz, recent* –

2020 • Recorded a live video feature for The Saxophonist Magazine

Hult Happy Hour (livestream)
Ratie D Black Freedom Concert (livestream)
6 swing shows and 3 Jazz Station shows (up to quarantine)
PDX Jazz Festival, with pianist Bryn Roberts
Jazz soloist with Eugene Symphony, Leslie Odom concert

2019 • Café Racer Sessions (Seattle, Washington)

Featured artist with Central Washington big band, NASA region I evening concert
Performed on bass clarinet with the Alan Ferber Nonet, Oregon Jazz Festival

2018 • Featured artist with the CCM big band, NASA evening jazz concert

Performed Eric Dolphy’s Far Cry album he the Jazz Record Art Collective, Chicago

2017 • Featured artist with the East Hubbard Jazz Orchestra in Chicago

Recorded a jazz album of all original compositions

2016 • Played seven different shows at the Jazz Station (as a leader); played 18 concerts as a side person

2015 • Played alto with the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies at Stamford Jazz Festival and Club Mexicali (New Jersey)

Played clarinet and bass clarinet for Todd Sickafoose’s band, Jazz Station
Led a “Tribute to Bird” night at the Jazz Station
Played lead alto for Jessie Smith’s Big Band album; CD release tour in Eugene, Portland, and Spokane

2014 • Performed live on KLCC

Played two concert series with the Emerald City Jazz Kings
Played on two Carl Woideck productions: “1959” and a Duke Ellington Concert
Performed numerous times with the Shner Quartet

2013 • Performed at regional NASA with Seamus Blake

Extensive clarinet solo work on a Benny Goodman tribute show
Shner jazz quartet played at NAfME in Portland, OR

2012 • Northwest tour with Jangeun Bae. Radio broadcast on KMHD.fm Portland, OR

2011 • Concerts in Jaffa and Jerusalem, Israel with Gittit Boazson’s quartet

2010 • Asia Jazz Tour with Jangun Bae. Nine concerts in Korea and Japan

2008 • Idit Shner Quartet with Toby Koenigsberg (piano), Sam Howard (bass), and

Jason Palmer (drums). Frequent jazz shows (Portland, Oregon), radio broadcast

on KMHD 91.9fm

Featured soloist at The Music of Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, a jazz

heritage project (Eugene, Oregon)

Featured soloist at Happy Birthday, Duke! A jazz tribute concert to Duke

Ellington (Eugene, Oregon)

Featured soloist at a Tribute to Charles Mingus, a jazz concert at the Shedd

Institute for the Arts (Eugene, Oregon)

2007 • Played a jazz concert of music from the Jewish liturgy arranged for a jazz

quartet at University of Oregon

Played with a jazz quartet on SoundBytes, a concert series of new music curated by Brian McWhorter

Played lead in a SuperSax-style group (solos by Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, Phil

Woods, arranged for 5 saxophones and rhythm section).

Jazz concert with Ron Miles at the University of Oregon

Recordings (as a side person)

2019 There Is Another World, Peter Mulvey, Righteous Babe Records (clarinet and bass clarinet)

2015 “Tricks of Light”, Jessika Smith. PJCE records (alto, flute)

2014 Thick Line by Alex Temple, “New Millennium Music for Horn” Quadre Records, Inc. (tenor saxophone)

2013 “Let It Show”, Sean Peterson Ess-tet (alto saxophone)

2006 Pushing Buttons by Andrew Walters, “Music from SEAMUS, vol. 16” (alto)

2005 Two o’clock Lab Band recording (lead alto)

2004 UNT Wind Symphony – Allegories (alto and baritone)

2003 Three O’clock Lab Band – live (lead alto)

2001 Alvaro’s Brazilian Jazz – Simplicity of Approach (flute)

2000 University of Central Oklahoma – Jazz Band (tenor) Searls and Allen – Time & Again (soprano and alto)

1999 Jockimo – Live at Dooley’s, Swing Lo with Jockimo (tenor and alto)

Pieces Premiered

2020 Magenta / Evan C. Paul

2018 Quicksilver / Stacy Garrop (also first recording of saxophone and piano version)

2017 Another Sleepless Night / Tony Glausi

Saturation / Andrea Reinkemeyer

Na’ama / Ziv Slama

2016 Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Band / William Bolcom

Minerva for alto saxophone and Piano / Evan C. Paul

2015 Sextet / Miklòs Maròs

2014 Behemoth for baritone saxophone and percussion / Roshanne Etezady

2013 Prelude and Fugue / Justin Morell

2011 Concerto pour saxophones / Jean-Louis Petit

2009 Pieces premiered during the Oregon Bach Festival’s Composers Symposium: Synthesis, Explained / Huckins • Quartet for a Stormy Night / Griffin • Growl, Spit, Shriek, and Pout / Collons • Troublesome / Zaccagnini • An Enchantment /Tinsley • Traffic-City / Dorsey • Gifts Ungiven / Kirschner • Night Blooming /Meites • Trio / Klein • Ponies to Nowhere / Bayer • Trio * 3.3 /X / Morell • Four Miniatures / Bogdan

2007 McKenzie Fanfare / Terry McQuillkin

2006 Pushing Buttons / Andrew Walters (also first recording)

2004 News Broadcast / Germaine Stegall • Yellowstone Blush / Lynn Job (also first recording) • Reflection No. 1 / Alejandro Florez

2003 Things such Dreams are Made On / Joshua Bradford

Teaching Experience

2019-present Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies

University of Oregon, School of Music and Dance

Saxophone Studio class size is about 20 students. Additional duties: Teach saxophone techniques and jazz techniques class to music education majors. Teach saxophone pedagogy and literature class. Teach graduate level jazz improvisation to pianists, bassists, guitarists. Coach saxophone quartets, saxophone ensemble and saxophone sectionals, advise graduate and undergraduate students, and recruit.

2013-2019 Associate Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies

University of Oregon, School of Music and Dance

Same duties as above

2008-2013 Assistant Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies

University of Oregon, School of Music and Dance

Same duties as above

2005-2008 Instructor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies, University of Oregon

Same duties as above.

2005 Teaching Fellow, University of North Texas.

Four O’clock Lab Band Director: Initiated, programmed and promoted concerts, Organized a recording session. Saxophone studio teacher for both Jazz Studies and Classical Performance majors.

2004 Teaching Fellow, University of North Texas

Nine O’clock Lab Band Director

2002 – 2003 Saxophone Studios (Private Instruction) in Celina and Trophy Club, Texas

2000 – 2001 Graduate Assistant, University of Central Oklahoma

Jazz Ensemble III Assistant director, Wind Ensemble assistant

Clinics and Master Classes Presented 2008-2020 (selected list)

Seattle Saxophone Institute (Washington) • IMEA Jazz Festival (Idaho) • Virginia Tech (Virginia) • University of North Carolina Greensboro (North Carolina) • Indiana University (Indiana) • Michigan State University (Michigan) • Saxophone Institute (Israel) • North American saxophone Alliance region I conference (Washington) • North American Saxophone Alliance National Conference (Texas) • OMEA (Oregon) • Tel-Aviv Conservatory (Israel) • Jerusalem Conservatory (Israel) • Zichron Ya’akov (Israel) • Seattle Saxophone Institute (Washington) • Hunyung University (Korea) • Seoul Arts Institute (Korea) • SUNY Potsdam (New York) • Northern Arizona University (Arizona) • Luther College (Iowa) • University of Northern Iowa (Iowa) • Columbia College (Chicago) • Frank Mantooth Jazz Festival (Illinois) • Oklahoma State University (Oklahoma)) • University of Puget Sound (Washington) • Pacific Lutheran University (Washington) • San Jose State University (California) • University of the Pacific (California) • Irish Jazz Festival (Oregon) • Coos Bay College (Oregon) • Gonzaga University (Washington) • Reno Jazz Festival (Nevada) • North American saxophone Alliance region I conference (Idaho)

Honors and Awards (only recent awards)

2020 Philip H. Knight Endowed Professor. A university-wide award of 25,000 for six years.

2018 University of Oregon Summer Research Award. A university-wide award for 5,500; will be used to record new repertoire for saxophone in July 2018.

2016 University of Oregon Faculty Excellence Award. A University-wide award for retention and continuing research. $25,000 in research funds.

2015 Thomas F. Herman Award for Excellence in Pedagogy. A university-wide award “in recognition of achievement and expertise in the areas of studio teaching of saxophone technique and coaching of chamber music ensembles”

Oregon Center for Humanities Summer Award, $5,000.

2009 Selmer performing artist/clinician

2006 Downbeat Magazine Student Music Award, for College Big Band Outstanding performance, with the Two o’clock Lab Band

Professional Affiliations

NASA North American Saxophone Alliance, Region I director

NAfME National Association for Music Education, member

OMEA Oregon Music Educators Association, member, presenter

2020 Events Cancelled due to Coronavirus

Jazz Show for PJCE records at the 1905, Portland, Oregon

Montavilla Jazz Festival, Portland, Oregon

Asia Pacific Saxophone Academy, Rangsit University, Bangkok, Thailand

Bolero with Eugene Symphony

Guest artist, Women in Jazz Symposium, Central Washington University

Numerous local dates at Cornbread Café and Jazz Station