Phoenix had a surprise visitor to their first 2024 summer performance at the weekend. The orchestra, who were performing in the bandstand at Abington Park, Northampton on Sunday afternoon, were thrilled to see Tom Bruton, owner of their sponsor Saxtet Publications, out in the audience! “It was great to see Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra and to hear lots of Saxtet Publications titles being perfRead More…
We were delighted to welcome our Patron, world-renowned saxophonist Gerard McChrystal, to our rehearsal recently to work through a new, modern concerto by Australian composer Matthew Orlovich. This exhilarating piece, ‘Concertino’, is a concerto in three movements that Phoenix is planning to perform live in November, with Gerard taking the lead on solo alto saxophone. Gerard is a true iRead More…
Sax maestro Dan Forshaw visited Market Harborough at the weekend to run an all day jazz workshop for saxophonists, all keen to try their hand at a bit of improvisation! Organised by Harborough’s Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra, 20 sax players came along to Church Langton Community Hall on Sunday 24 March to work on pieces by Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, to name Read More…
2023 has been a hectic but highly rewarding year for Phoenix, topped off by two Christmas concerts, at Desborough Library and Community Hub on 9 December and at St Helen’s Church, Sibbertoft the following week on 15 December. We’d like to thank everyone who has supported us this year – it’s been a real blast! Here’s a little something to get you in the Christmas spirit, recorded at the St HRead More…
Saxophonists got a real musical workout recently, when Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra’s Patron, international performing saxophonist Gerard McChrystal, came along to put us through our paces at an all day workshop. Gerard joined nine members of Phoenix and 12 very welcome guests at Church Langton Community Hall on 12 November to work on ensemble playing, giving expert advice on rhythm, technique,Read More…
Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra were delighted to perform at St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Harrington on Sunday 15 October, for the 2023 Harrington Concert Series.
Back by popular demand after a very well received performance as part of last year’s concert series, the orchestra delivered a varied programme with music ranging from the 16th Century to the modern day, including the very first public pRead More…
Phoenix has had a busy Summer entertaining the crowds at parks and bandstands across Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire this year. We were particularly pleased to be invited to play in the Bishop’s Walled Garden at Southwell Minster (pictured above) as part of the prestigious Southwell Music Festival in August, and to have performed for the first time in the beautiful surrounRead More…
There was a bit of drizzle in the air when we arrived at Evington Park, Leicester to perform on Sunday. But, undeterred, we decided to risk the elements and set up in front of the manor house to entertain the gathering crowd, who had come to hear us play. But then the black clouds started to descend, and we unfortunately didn’t quite make it to the end of our 1 hour set before the heavens openRead More…
On 1 June, Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra gathered at Peterborough Station to take a leap into the unknown – our first ever concert tour. The omens were good though, when our LNER Azuma train arrived in Phoenix team colours (!), and we set out on the 480-mile trip north to meet and perform with our friends and hosts Aberdeenshire Saxophone Orchestra (ASO), who we had previously only met online. Read More…
Two saxophone orchestras who built up a lasting friendship online during the Covid lockdown will be performing together live this summer for the very first time! Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra (PSO) is travelling the 480 miles north to meet with their friends and hosts, Aberdeenshire Saxophone Orchestra (ASO), and the two groups will be performing together at two live concerts:
The Acorn Centre, Read More…