Chicago Saxophone Quartet

Founded in 1968 by four virtuosos of uncommon artistic vision, the CHICAGO SAXOPHONE QUARTET has played a significant role in propelling this once-unusual type of wind ensemble into the mainstream of concert life. Throughout the United States and Canada, the group has attracted steadily widening audiences as it continues to win new admirers for the saxophone quartet medium. The ensemble has an expansive repertoire, ranging from music of the Renaissance to contemporary works, and has premiered many compositions written expressly for them.

Members of the Quartet have appeared with major symphony orchestras throughout the United States. In addition to performing at colleges, universities and performing arts centers, the ensemble has appeared on the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts Series, the nationally-syndicated radio station WFMT and Chicago’s WTTW. Their recordings include The Chicago Saxophone Quartet (Centaur); Capriccio with the Indiana State University Wind Ensemble (Truemedia) and July (ELF).

WAYNE RICHARDS, soprano saxophonist, was Instructor of Saxophone at Roosevelt University from 1978 to 1991. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree and Master of Music degree from Northwestern University. As recipient of a Richter International Scholar Grant, he earned the Premier Prix in saxophone from the Conservatoire Nationale de Bordeaux where he studied with Jean-Marie Londeix. Mr. Richards was formerly the alto saxophonist of the Frederick Hemke Saxophone Quartet and is active as a studio musician and freelance commercial performer in the thriving Chicago theater community.

PAUL BRO, alto saxophonist, is active as a soloist as well as chamber musician and has presented recitals throughout major cities in the United States and Canada. He has served as artist-in-residence at the Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada and has been heard on Minnesota Public Radio and the CBC as part of the Bro/Street Duo. Bro recorded Holy Roller, a work written expressly for him by composer Libby Larsen with the Indiana State University Wind Ensemble and his first solo CD, Nostalgie: A Retrospective of the Saxophone Music of M. William Karlins was released in 2000. He received his Doctor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Northwestern University and is currently an associate professor of music at Indiana State University. Bro serves as President-elect of the North American Saxophone Alliance.

LEO SAGUIGUIT, tenor saxophonist, has appeared in numerous solo and chamber music performances at universities and music festivals throughout the United States and abroad. His activities in various ensembles have led to a prize in the prestigious Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and performances with the Basel Saxophone Quartet of Switzerland, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Milwaukee Symphony, Grant Park Symphony, Atlanta Symphony and the Florida Orchestra. Saguiguit served on the music faculty of Emory University for seven years and Northwestern University for three years. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Emory University and a Master of Music from Northwestern University and is currently assistant professor of saxophone at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

JAMES KASPRZYK, baritone saxophonist, is founder of the Chicago Saxophone Quartet and is internationally known as a baritone saxophonist. Mr. Kasprzyk holds both a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University where he studied with Dr. Fred Hemke. His extensive tours with saxophone quartet include a tour of the Far East in a project sponsored by the Department of State. He is currently Assistant Professor of Saxophone at Vandercook College of Music. A highly respected instructor of saxophone, Mr. Kasprzyk's transcriptions for the solo instrument as well as quartet enjoy widespread popularity.