'Down Beat' magazine is crazy for UA's Sax-Mania

"Basically, we get the bragging rights for the year," said Terry Peffer, a graduate student in saxophone performance and the lead saxophonist for Sax-Mania.

Down Beat magazine named Sax-Mania, which is comprised of Peffer; alto and tenor David Zapotocky, a music education junior; tenor Jeremy Patfield, a jazz performance junior; baritone Daniel Bell, a jazz performance doctoral student; and alternate Kathy Creath, a musical theory doctoral student, as the best college Classical Instrumental Chamber Music Group.

The national contest winners for the college and high school divisions are featured in the May issue of the magazine, which will be on newsstands this week, Peffer said.

Peffer said the group submitted four tapes of one of their November performances to the jazz magazine's 20th annual student music awards.

He said a majority of the most distinguished music schools were represented in the contest, making the award very special to the group.

"Beating out some of the top schools, like (University of) Indiana, Eastman (College) and the Manhattan School of Music, to win the award is a real honor," Peffer said.

According to Down Beat magazine, more than 430 applicants, a contest record, submitted entries this year.

The three other contest categories were jazz instrumental soloist, classical instrumental soloist and classical instrumental symphonic band.

Despite winning in the classical instrumental chamber music category, Peffer said the band considers itself to be more of a jazz group.

The group often plays traditional classical music but adds a lot of improvisation to the pieces, he said.

"In this particular style, we make our own form and combinations," Peffer said.

Sax-Mania has been together since Peffer held auditions for the band last year. He said the band plans to continue playing next year, but will possibly make some member changes.

Music professor Jeffrey Haskell said the group's win in the classical category exemplifies the fusion of music that is now occurring. He said the lines between musical categories are becoming blurred, which he said he believes is exciting for music as a whole.

A plaque, a replica of the Down Beat magazine cover featuring the names of the winners, was presented to the UA school of music last week. Peffer said it is being showcased in the Music building.

In addition, each member of the group received a Down Beat award certificate and award pin, he said.

The Down Beat contest rules state that the judges' critique of the bands' performances included technique, intonation, accurate rhythm and time, presence or authority and overall sound.

In addition, the rules state that the contestants were critiqued on the quality of their recording and the actual and presentation of the tape itself.