The Capitol Quartet - Three Plus Two Equals Four?

BUENA PARK, CA (May 10, 2004) — Three plus two equals....four?! When are five musicians still a quartet? Yamaha artists The Capitol Quartet (plus one) prove this question possible through their high level of talent and dedication to music education.

The Capitol Quartet is widely considered one of the most exciting ensembles performing today. Comprised of former saxophonists of the premiere military bands of the United States of America, and teaching faculty from leading schools of music from throughout the country, the Capitol Quartet was recently hailed by American Record Guide as an ensemble that plays "with luscious color and uninhibited verve."

Since its formation in 1991, the Capitol Quartet has performed regularly at major concert venues throughout the mid-Atlantic region, earning wide acclaim for the ensemble's musical versatility and innovative style. The Capitol Quartet opened the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's 1999-2000 concert season under the direction of famed American composer/conductor Marvin Hamlisch and was also featured in a specially televised live Independence Day concert with the Baltimore Symphony in 1999. The Capitol Quartet has also recently performed with the Cincinnati Pops, Rochester Philharmonic, Butler, Loudoun, Williamsport, and Grand Rapids Symphonies as well as at the Strathmore Hall concert series (Bethesda, Maryland); and at several universities including, Eastern Michigan, Michigan State, and the University of Maryland.

The Capitol Quartet's innovative program repertoire features special arrangements with orchestra as well as traditional French quartet compositions, contemporary works for saxophone, and transcriptions of classical, jazz and ragtime favorites.

In 1994, the Capitol Quartet won the prestigious Baltimore Chamber Music Awards Competition, and in 1997 released its debut recording: American Sketches on the Klavier Records International label. Acclaimed by the Baltimore Sun as "a tour de force," and by American Record Guide as a "delectable release," the recording features original works by leading American composers and showcases the range of influences on the saxophone throughout the twentieth century.

In February 2001, Summit Records released the Capitol Quartet's premiere orchestral CD entitled, Anything Goes, which features the Quartet and orchestra performing works such as It Don't Mean a Thing, Stella by Starlight, My Foolish Heart, and Beethoven's Fur Elise. According to www.allaboutjazz.com, "This album can be summed up in one word: Enchanting."

Famed American composer and entertainer Marvin Hamlisch says of the Capitol Quartet: "I have had the great pleasure of performing with the Capitol Quartet. Their fabulous sound, professionalism and innovative program all combine for a wonderfully entertaining musical experience."

The Capitol Quartet proudly uses Yamaha Saxophones.

To learn more about the Capitol Quartet, please click here.

Recently, The Capitol Quartet was featured in The International Musician, the official publication of the American Federation of Musicians. To read this article, please click here.

The Capitol Quartet story, written by Stephen Laifer, appears in the May 2004 issue of The International Musician, monthly trade journal of the American Federation of Musicians.