- James Houlik
James Houlik (born
4 December 1942 inBay Shore, New York ) is an American tenor saxophonist and saxophone teacher.Education
He first became a student of the tenor saxophone under the guidance of Harvey Egan during his early years at Islip High School. He studied music education at
State University of New York at Fredonia and the University of Illinois. He studied with saxophonistCecil Leeson atBall State University . He studied saxophone with classical saxophone pioneerSigurd Raschèr , and did additional study with Raschèr at theEastman School of Music .The vast majority of classical saxophonists play
alto saxophone almost exclusively. Houlik, however, gravitated to thetenor saxophone early in life, and was encouraged by Raschèr to pursue the instrument.Teaching career
Houlik began teaching at
East Carolina University where he built a successful saxophone program.He later became professor of Saxophone at the
North Carolina School of the Arts .He is currently Professor of Saxophone and Chair of Woodwinds at
Duquesne University inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania .He has held many summer saxophone study programs, at
North Carolina School of the Arts and more recently atWildacres Retreat , a facility inLittle Switzerland, North Carolina . At the Wildacres workshops he is joined by the members of theNew Century Saxophone Quartet who coachsaxophone quartet s made up of workshop participants.Performing career
Houlik began his performing career with a
Washington, D.C. debut at thePhillips Collection . He has appeared in such major venues asCarnegie Hall ,Lincoln Center ,Town Hall in Toronto, theSmithsonian Institution , and London'sBarbican .His
Carnegie Hall debut was in 1978 and he playedAlice Tully Hall in 1981. [ [http://www2.potsdam.edu/mcallitp/timeline Saxophone history timeline] at Potsdam University web site]He regularly appears on university campuses throughout the United States as a performer and as a teacher of clinics and master classes.
His concerto performances have included those with the
American Symphony Orchestra , theGrant Park Symphony , theLondon Symphony Orchestra , thePhoenix Symphony , theWest Virginia Symphony , the San Remo Orchestra (Italy), theIstanbul Philharmonic , theNorth Carolina Symphony , the Chamber Orchestra of Milan, the New Art Philharmonic ofPretoria , South Africa, the Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, theUnited States Navy Band , and dozens more.The "
Washington Post " hailed Houlik as “TheAndres Segovia of the Tenor Saxophone.” His debut with the London Symphony Orchestra moved the "London Daily Mail " to describe him as “the world’s great saxophone virtuoso.”In 1995, Houlik performed for President Clinton in the East Room of the
White House at theNational Arts Award Ceremony.He is an artist/clinician for
the Selmer Company , a saxophone manufacturer.axophone works composed for Houlik
Following the example of
Sigurd Raschèr , Houlik has worked closely with many composers to foster the development of a repertoire for thetenor saxophone , an instrument with few concertos in its repertoire.Over seventy pieces of music have been composed for, or commissioned by, Houlik. These include:
*Walter S. Hartley , "Poem", 1967
*Walter S. Hartley , Sonatina, 1967
*Robert Ward , Concerto for tenor saxophone
*Morton Gould , Diversions for Tenor Saxophone
*David Ott
*Sherwood Shaffer , Eric Ewazen,
*Russell Peck , "The Upward Stream" concerto for tenor saxophone and orchestra, 1986
*Paul Harvey
*Vache Sharafyan Discography
*
Russell Peck , "The Upward Stream: Music ofRussell Peck " [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000049LJ/ Russell Peck CD] on amazon.com]
*"American Saxophone" (music ofMorton Gould ,Russell Peck ,Robert Ward ) with theLondon Symphony Orchestra ,North Carolina Symphony Orchestra ,Winston-Salem Piedmont Triad Symphony Orchestra , conductors:Gerhardt Zimmermann ,Paul Anthony McGrane ,Peter Perret . Audio CD, December 3, 1996, Label: Koch Int'l Classics [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000001SJW "American Saxophone" CD] on amazon.com]
*"Robert Ward: Jubilation Overture; Symphony No. 4; Concerto for Saxophone; Sonic Structure" [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000049KO/ Robert Ward CD] on amazon.com]
*"Night Fantasy, Music For Winds" music ofRobert Ward [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000003JVQ/ "Night Fantasy, Music for Winds" CD] on amazon.com]
*"Orchestral Music & Concertos by Eric Ewazen", Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Conductor: Paul Polivnick, Audio CD (February 26, 2002), Label:Albany Records [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000060ON0/ Eric Ewazen CD] at amazon.com]
*"Tenor Tapestry" (with pianist{Debra Ayers ), Aerophon Recordings [http://www.jameshoulik.com/discs.htm]
*"On Wings of Song" (with pianistVahan Sargsyan ), unreleased [http://www.jameshoulik.com/discs.htm]
*"(need other titles)"References
External links
* [http://www.jameshoulik.com/ James Houlik's web site]
* [http://www.music.duq.edu/fasBioHoul.html Houlik's faculty page] atDuquesne University
* [http://www.wildacres.org/sax.htm James Houlik Saxophone Retreat] atWildacres
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