Music Scholarship Concert Series Presents Illinois Saxophone Quintet

The Illinois Saxophone Quintet, the only professional group of its kind in the world, will return to Bradley University’s Dingeldine Music Center on Sunday, February 15, at 3 p.m. for a Music Scholarship Concert Series performance. Tickets for the performance are $10 for adults and free for students and will be available at the door.

Founded in 1972 by Western Illinois University saxophone professor Dr. Robert Sibbing and Keith M. Zimmerman, professor at Bradley University, joining forces with three dedicated saxophone playing music educators, the ISQ has performed in many parts of the central U.S., France, England, Canada, and Germany. The quintet now is made up of co-founder Zimmerman and four of his former Bradley students. 

The ISQ’s programs are a mix of original works and transcriptions of organ, piano, and string ensemble works covering the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century periods as well as rags, cake walks, show tunes, and jazz influenced genres.

Zimmerman, soprano saxophonist and leader of the group, formerly a saxophone and music education teacher at Illinois Wesleyan University, holds degrees from Illinois Wesleyan and the French national conservatory system as a French Ministry of Culture scholarship student of Daniel Deffayet along with advanced study with concert saxophone pioneer Cecil Leeson at Ball State University and Paul Brodie in Toronto, Canada. He is a long-time artist /clinician for Selmer Paris saxophones. He has also been lead saxophone for many years with the Pekin Park District summer professional concert band and worked frequently in the 1980’s and 1990’s as lead saxophonist for Ringling Brothers Circus.

Doug Stewart, alto saxophonist, holds a music business degree from Bradley and worked as an educational representative with stores in Wisconsin and Illinois before moving into computer program sales. He continues to be a free-lance saxophonist. Next fall Doug plans to return to school to pursue a masters degree in saxophone performance.

Corey Burns, alto saxophonist, holds a computer graphics degree from Bradley where he also played in jazz and concert bands and the saxophone quartet while studying with Mr. Zimmerman. Corey now plays each summer in the Pekin Park District Concert Band as well as with the ISQ and works in computer software.

Russell Zehr, tenor saxophonist, holds a music business degree from Bradley. He is employed as a customer service representative for The Music Shoppe in Normal. This fall, Russ enrolled in the Master of Divinity program at Northern Seminary in Lombard, Illinois. He is worship coordinator for the First Baptist Church of El Paso and was recently licensed for ministry by his home church in Graymont. In the summer, Russ plays in the Pekin Park District Concert Band and Pontiac Municipal Band.

Tim Karth, baritone saxophonist, holds a music education degree from Bradley as well as a master's degree in music education. For many years Tim directed the Streator High School band program and the jazz band at Illinois Valley Community College before moving to Missouri where he continues to work as a high school band director.

Call 309.677.3596 for more information.