The program will feature Assistant Professor Dr. Christopher Creviston on the saxophone, assisted by Assistant Professor Dr. Hannah Gruber on the piano, Professor Bret Zvacek on the trombone and Adjunct Instructor John Geggie on the string bass.         

Classical and jazz compositions by composers Heitor Villa Lobos, William Albright, Vittorio Monti and Charlie Parker will be included in the program.

Dr. Creviston is an internationally known player and teacher.  He has played in Carnegie Hall with the Detroit Symphony, Prince’s birthday party at Paisley Park, appeared live on BET’s “BET on Jazz” and gigged the Apollo Theatre in Harlem.

He has appeared at clinics and conventions beginning as an undergraduate student when he was featured performer and clinician at the Dana Saxaphone Symposium, and most recently appearing as a featured guest artist at the NASA Region VIII Conference.

Dr. Creviston was selected as winner of the North American Saxophone Alliance’s Classical Competition and was a finalist in the New York Concert Artist’s Guild.

He has appeared as the featured soloist with many orchestras and bands, including his concerto debut, “Concertino da Camera” at the age of 17 and his professional debut playing “Fantasia” by Villa Lobos’ with the National Symphony Orchestra.

Now based in New York City, Dr. Creviston freelances and works with his own band. He regularly appears with the Capitol Saxophone Quartet, R&B artist Davis Raleigh, pianist Jun Okada and guitarist Oren Fader. 

Dr. Gruber is an active researcher on the effects of music on children with autism.

She is presently the New York MTNA collegiate chair and assistant director of the Southeastern Piano Festival. She has performed in festivals and competitions throughout the United States, collaborating with various artists.           

In December 2007, Dr. Gruber performed the world premiere of Stacy Garrop’s “Pieces of Sanity” in Carnegie Hall with Dr. Creviston.

While holding her Masters of Music in piano performance she also has her Master of Music Education from the University of South Carolina.

Zvacek is the director of jazz studies at Crane where he conducts the jazz ensembles and teaches improvisation, arranging and jazz history.

An active trombone soloist/clinician for Yamaha, he has performed with numerous jazz artists and has guest conducted groups all over the United States, Canada and Europe.

A published composer, Zvacek’s music has been performed by numerous university and professional groups including the UMO Jazz Orchestra (Helsinki, Finland) and the Count Basie Orchestra.

He joined the Crane faculty in 1987 after receiving his Master of Music in jazz studies from the University of North Texas, where he taught improvisation and was the conductor, soloist and arranger for the One O’Clock Lab Band.

Geggie has secured for himself a position in the Canadian and international jazz scene as a versatile musician and creative composer. This fall, he will be celebrating the release of two new CDs of his own compositions.

He has written music for many different ensembles and much of it has been recorded and broadcast on new music program for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

He has for many years hosted the Late Night Jam Sessions at the Ottawa International Jazz Festival.  Previously, he has performed at various international festivals including in Rouen and Maubeuge (France), in Molde (Norway) and throughout the United States.

Most recently, Geggie performed extensively in the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival and the Guelph Jazz Festival.

The recital is free, and the public is encouraged to attend.