Ashu (Ashu), Saxophone

Biography

website:  http://www.ashuonline.com

Concert saxophonist Ashu, has defied conventions winning major international and national competitions traditionally won by pianists and violinists. He made his recital debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Hall in New York and, at age 16, made his concerto debut at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. Since then, performances have taken him throughout the USA and Europe, including Norway, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and the French West Indies.

With a dynamic style that captivates audiences, and a repertoire ranging from original soprano and alto saxophone works by Debussy and Glazunov to his own arrangementsof Morricone, Rachmaninoff, and Piazzolla, Ashu has shown that the concert saxophone can reach beyond stylistic categorization and to a large diversity of people.His playing has been described as "Riveting...Brilliant...Pizzazz to burn!" (National Public Radio Performance Today host) and "...just as much fun to watch him as it is to listen to him." (Dallas Morning News).

Bom and raised in California, Ashu began playing the saxophone at age 10. His love for performing quickly became apparent and he began entering various competitions. Ashu has won First Prizes at competitions including the International Heida Hermanns, International Kingsville Wind Instrumentalist, National Federation of Music Clubs, National Lennox/RSO, National Midland-Odessa, National George S. Howard, and National Alliance for Excellence Competitions. In addition, he has been overall winner of the Houston Symphony, Skokie Valley Symphony, Keweenaw Symphony, and Northwestern University Concerto Competitions, as well as overall winner of the American Opera Society, WAFA Concerto, Interlochen Governor's Scholarship, and the Houston Symphony Flores-Smith Competitions.

Ashu has toured as concerto soloist with symphony orchestras throughout the world and has been presented on numerous prestigious recital series, with recent venues including the Vienna Konzerthaus, Kravis Center, and La Jolla Music Society. Upcoming engagements include tours throughout Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and the USA. Ashu received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in saxophone performance from Northwestern University and is currently based in the Chicago area. For more information on Ashu, please visit his website at www.ashuonline.com.