Topic: College of Fine Arts
August 13, 2007
<b>Nathan Bogert</b>
Nathan Bogert, a Ball State
music student majoring in saxophone performance, was named the 2007 Yamaha National Young Performing Artist.
Bogert, an Honors College student from Louisville, bested eight other young musicians to earn the overall title at the Music for All Summer Symposium at Illinois State University this summer.
The classical saxophonist won with his live performance of French composer Roger Boutry's "Divertimento" during the symposium's kick-off concert before a panel of three judges and an estimated crowd of 4,000 people.
"The ‘Divertimento' is a piece that includes beautiful melodic lines and also features virtuosic technical passages," Bogert said. "Audiences really enjoy it for its exciting technical passages, flowing melodic phrases and the accessible overall concept of the piece."
Winning the competition was a dream come true for Bogert, he said.
"My first saxophone was a Yamaha, and I've always loved the way their instruments sound," he added. "They are the best quality, and I love the tone colors they allow me to produce. I feel honored to represent Yamaha as one of its Young Artists, and I hope this is the beginning of a lifelong relationship with them."
The Yamaha award was the highlight of Bogert's memorable year, he said. He is a member of Ball State's Wind Ensemble and plays in the top university jazz band. This summer he also performed with Ball State saxophone professor George Wolfe at Chautauqua Institution. In January, Bogert won the Ball State Symphony Concerto Competition, which earned him a trip to perform in Japan, his first trip overseas.
"He's one of the best students I've had in my 25 years at Ball State," said Wolfe, who was recently featured as a soloist with the Royal Band of the Belgian Air Force on a compact disc released by Arizona University Recordings. "He's self-motivated, always well-prepared and has a clear vision of where he wants to take his professional career."
Bogert has already spent his first-place, $5,000 retail credit on a "new horn" from Yamaha's main factory in Japan. In a couple weeks, he's looking forward to returning to Ball State and getting his hands on his custom alto saxophone. Once he completes his senior year at Ball State, he hopes to earn his master of music degree at either Indiana University or the University of Iowa.