The Meta Trio will present works by Johann Joachim Quantz, Jean-Baptiste Singelée, Johannes Brahms, and Astor Piazzolla. Meta has adapted the well established Trio in C minor by Quantz and Brahms’ beloved masterpiece Horn Trio in Eb for the saxophone offering audiences an opportunity to hear the saxophone, and these well known works, in a new way. Jean-Baptiste Singelée, a violinist and composer, was a personal friend of Adolphe Sax and composed many works for his new invention, the saxophone. His charming three-movement work, Duo-Concertante, represents the first original work for two saxophones and piano. The concert will conclude with two well-known works for the Argentinian Tango composer, Astor Piazzolla.

Combining the vocal qualities of the saxophone with one of the most traditional formations in concert music, the Meta Trio is a modern ensemble painting the musical landscape with their captivating and diverse programming. Saxophonists Michael Hernandez and Jacob Swanson have collaborated with pianist James Welch to adapt established repertoire for their ensemble in addition to exploring works originally for two saxophones and piano.

Michael Hernandez (soprano saxophone) has been heard in concert halls throughout Europe and North America as well as on NPR’s Performance Today. As a soloist he has appeared in recitals and alongside orchestras all over the United States. He is the founding soprano saxophonist of the critically acclaimed Mana Quartet that has held residencies at dozens of music festivals and universities including Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, Hot Springs Music Festival, National Music Festival, Music in the Mountains, The Taneycomo Festival Orchestra, The Festival of New American Music, Ethos New Music Festival, and the Oklahoma State Contemporary Music Festival. Hernandez currently serves on the faculty of San Jose State University. He is a D’Addario Performing Artist.

Praised by audiences and composers for his “gorgeous, lyrical tone, spectacular technique, and heartfelt musicality …” Jacob Swanson has performed throughout North America and Europe on concert series, television, and radio. He has inspired several composers to write for him as a soloist and his collaborating ensembles including the Decho Ensemble that he cofounded in 2011. As member of the Decho Ensemble, he participated in a residency as guest of the NyMusikks Komponoistgruppe in Oslo, Norway. After several years of preparation and research, Swanson assisted Carina Raschèr with the Ries&Erler publication of Erwin Dressel’s Duo Konzert für Sopran- und Altsaxophon und Kleines Orchester (1965). In 2014, he presented the world-premiere of this monumental work with his long-time collaborator Sarah Marchitelli and the Trinity Chamber Orchestra. Swanson is a Vandoren Regional Artist.

James Welch serves on the faculty at the State University of New York at Fredonia as a collaborative pianist and instructor of class piano. At SUNY Fredonia, he has accompanied numerous recitals, juries, and master-classes while serving as vocal coach and accompanist for many main-stage musicals. Welch also serves as collaborative pianist for the Rocky Ridge Music Center in Estes Park, Colorado. He has performed for Peter Schickele, Giuseppe Sabatini, Renee Fleming, Lee Hoiby, Dawn Upshaw, Gibert Kalish, Jake Heggie, and most recently Ian Clarke, Judy Kuhn, Eric Ewazen, Karen Aker, and Jason Robert Brown. As a soloist, Welch was a Second Prize winner of the 2007 Bradshaw and Bouno International Piano Competition. He has performed throughout North American and Europe including appearances at SUNY Buffalo, East Carolina University, Morgan State University, Western Oregon University, The Rocky Ridge Music Center, and in Portland, Oregon, Lucca, Italy, and Ambialet, France.

The Meta Trio performs on vintage Buescher Saxophones built in the United States to the acoustic specifications of their inventor, Adolphe Sax.