Harborough’s Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra were honoured to welcome their Patron, world-renowned saxophonist Gerard McChrystal, to lead an all-day saxophone workshop on Sunday 14 November.
Thirteen Phoenix members were joined by another 13 local saxophonists for this open workshop at Church Langton Community Hall, and the 26 musicians were put through their paces on four very different pieces of mRead More…
It’s been a momentous week for Leicestershire’s Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra (PSO) and Scotland’s Aberdeenshire Saxophone Orchestra (ASO), who were down at London’s Wigmore Hall on Monday (1 November) for the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) awards – the Oscars of the classical music world, presented by BBC Radio 3’s Katie Dereham. The two groups had been jointly shortlisted for a preRead More…
Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra made their first ever live performance in Harborough’s Town Square on Saturday (25 September), as part of Harborough Big Green Week. This pioneering group, formed in January 2020, has been actively making music online during the Coronavirus pandemic, and they are now thrilled to have their first live performance under their belts. Thanks to everyone who came alRead More…
Leicestershire’s Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra and Scotland’s Aberdeenshire Saxophone Orchestra (ASO) have been jointly shortlisted for a prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) national award, and they are calling on the Leicestershire community, and saxophonists worldwide, to give them their vote!
The RPS awards are widely considered to be the highest accolades in the UK for classical musRead More…
Phoenix has joined forces with Scotland’s Aberdeenshire Saxophone Orchestra to produce a cross-border recording and video for International Make Music Day.
17 saxophonists – 10 from Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra (PSO) and seven from Aberdeenshire Saxophone Orchestra (ASO) – have got together to record an arrangement of the rousing march ‘Entry of the Gladiators’, written by Czech composer JulRead More…
Members of Market Harborough’s Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra were recently treated to an online masterclass from their Patron Gerard McChrystal. The session covered practice techniques, use of relaxed curved fingers and a relaxed mindset for ease of playing, how the brain plays such a big part in what you think you can and can’t achieve, and valuable tips on arranging music for a saxophone oRead More…
Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra’s Christmas charity single has raised an amazing £839 for local charity Voluntary Action South Leicestershire (VASL), more than treble the original £250 fundraising target set by the group!
The orchestra’s version of Gaudete! features 14 saxophonists playing six different types of saxophone. The accompanying YouTube video has been viewed nearly 500 times. PhoeniRead More…
Phoenix got back to fortnightly rehearsals this morning (Sunday 9 January), meeting up to have fun and make music over Zoom. These online rehearsals have been inspired by our new friends at the Aberdeenshire Saxophone Orchestra, who very kindly allowed us to join one of their Zoom rehearsals just before Christmas to see how it’s all done! Facilitated by our MD Tony Rifugiato, we are currentRead More…
Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra has released a virtual Christmas charity single to help raise much needed funds for Harborough based charity Voluntary Action South Leicestershire. The orchestra has recorded a rousing version of the atmospheric Christmas tune Gaudete!, which was first published in the 16th Century and made famous in the 70s by English folk rock band Steeleye Span. You can downloRead More…
We’re delighted to say that we’ve had four new members join us since lockdown started. We’d like to wish a big, warm Phoenix welcome to Doris Schierer, Katie Burrows, Roger Calvert and Judith Allen – it’s great to have you on board! If you’re aged 18+, play sax to at least Grade 5 level, can read music and are interested in joining or finding out more about Phoenix, please contact us –Read More…