Presidio Saxophone Quartet 

Presidio’s goal is simple: to enjoy and perpetuate a distinctive heritage of concert saxophone performance. Lauded for their varied and entertaining programming, Presidio draws from a very unique and imaginative saxophone quartet repertoire. Invariably, a Presidio concert will include dazzling French masterworks, more adventurous contemporary American fare, and numerous fun and familiar works such as a medley from George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess or and organ fugue by J. S. Bach. The music of this remarkable combination of soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones is sure to resonate with audiences of diverse tastes and backgrounds.

Soprano Saxophonist Michael Keepe lives in Tucson, Arizona with his lovely wife Jessica, and beautiful daughter Temperance where he is in high demand as a performer and music educator.

 In addition to performing and touring with PSQ, Mike performs locally with the Arizona Opera, the Tucson Symphony, and The Rodriguez & Keepe Duo: a classical piano and saxophone duo active since 1992.  He is Adjunct Instructor of Saxophone and Music Industry at Pima College in Tucson, and has been an independent instructor of saxophone for over 20 years. He is an active member in local and national teachers associations and is Immediate Past President of the Tucson Music Teachers Association. Mike’s involvement with public and private schools has led him to serve as clinician, adjudicator, and band director for the Tucson Unified School District and the Arizona Music Educators Association.

In addition to performing and teaching, Mike is also a Producer at Arizona University Recordings: an international recording label promoting today’s most talented performers and composers from around the world, and owner of MLKEEPE Publications (ASCAP): a music publishing company dedicated to promoting the finest of today’s concert saxophone repertoire.

Mr. Keepe he has received Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education and Saxophone Performance at the University of Arizona and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Saxophone Performance with a minor in Music Business at U of A.  He is a Performing Artist and Clinician for the Selmer Company, and can be heard on the Albany and AUR recording labels.

Alto saxophonist Daniel Bell performs with the Presidio Saxophone Quartet and teaches saxophone and flute at the Music Academy of Tucson. He received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Saxophone Performance from the University of Arizona in 2004, where he studied with Elizabeth Zinn Ervin. An example of Dr. Bell’s scholarly work appears in the peer-reviewed journal The Saxophone Symposium (2004) titled “The Saxophone in Germany 1924-1935: A Cultural History.” A person with diverse interests, Dan teaches Introductory Astronomy at the AmeriSchools College Preparatory Academy in Tucson, and has spent ten seasons conducting wildlife surveys throughout Southern Arizona and New Mexico. Dan was a founding member of the acclaimed saxophone quartet SaxMania, winner of two consecutive Downbeat awards. Prior to Arizona, he studied music at the University of Michigan and at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he won Drake’s Young Artist Concerto Competition.

Tenor saxophonist Michael Kuhn was born and raised in Buffalo, NY and has lived and worked in Tucson since 1985. He is a first-call musician, clinician and recording artist throughout southern Arizona, and has an active private teaching studio.  In addition to his work with the Presidio Quartet, Mike performs with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Arizona Jazz Orchestra and various other groups regionally.  He has backed musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie, Lou Rawls and the Manhattan Transfer, among others.  In 1993 Mike released Pride and Prejudice, a jazz CD which features all original compositions.

Mike is a great believer in exposing and educating people to all types of music, and does not like placing labels on musical sounds and styles.  He has been an instructor of music at Pima Community College in Tucson since 1990, where he directs the Jazz Studies program, and also teaches theory and history.  Mike’s dedication to teaching earned him Pima’s "Outstanding Adjunct Faculty" award in 1997.  He is also the Director of Bands at Cochise College in Sierra Vista, AZ.

Baritone saxophonist Ryan McCormick is a significant emerging talent with a devoted interest in exploring contemporary music and is a frequent performer at both the World Saxophone Congress and North American Saxophone Alliance conferences.  He has performed locally as a soloist with the Catalina Chamber Orchestra and internationally with the Arizona Ambassadors of Music.  Ryan has also worked with and premiered pieces by noted composers such as Scott Winshop, Jason Biggs, Alisha Nichols, and Kip Haaheim.

In addition to performing with the Presidio Saxophone Quartet, Ryan maintains a thriving private instruction studio in Tucson and is an adjunct faculty member in music at Pima Community College. Mr. McCormick holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Saxophone Performance from the University of Arizona, where he studied under Dr. Kelland Thomas.

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Time, date, and program subject to change.