The PRISM Quartet
Intriguing programs of great beauty and breadth have distinguished the PRISM Quartet as one of America's foremostchamber ensembles, presenting thesaxophone as a serious concert instrument while embracing its rich history injazz and popular music. Founded in 1984, the ensemble has twice been awardedthe Chamber Music America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming ofContemporary Music and has been chosen by Musical America as "Outstanding YoungArtists." PRISM's creative work hasbeen supported by the nation's leading cultural philanthropies, including theNational Endowment for the Arts, Meet the Composer, Chamber Music America, theRockefeller Foundation, the Presser Foundation, the Aaron Copland Fund, thePhiladelphia Music Project (The Pew Charitable Trusts), and state arts councilsin Pennsylvania, New York, and Michigan.
The PRISMQuartet is one of the nation's most active proponents of new music, developinga presence for its medium with performances in nearly every state and abroad.Recent seasons have been highlighted by engagements which reflect the Quartet'sversatility, including appearances in Alice Tully Hall with the Chamber MusicSociety of Lincoln Center, on "Entertainment Tonight," and with thefamed Chilean rock group Inti-Illimani in Santiago. In 1995, PRISM toured LatinAmerica under the auspices of the U.S. State Department with programs ofcontemporary American music. PRISM has also toured extensively with the ChesterString Quartet performing Michael Sahl's "Storms" for saxophones andstrings. Additional engagements have included performances at the ChautauquaInstitution, the Eastman School of Music, the University of Utah, a tour ofHawaii, a residency at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, performances at NewYork's Merkin Hall and Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, the Orange CountyPhilharmonic Society, Los Angeles' Chamber Music in Historic Sites, theUniversity of Illinois' Krannert Center, Ann Arbor's University Musical Society,Purdue University Convocations, Dartmouth College, Ithaca College, MichiganState University, Brigham Young University, the University of Vermont, GeorgiaSouthern University and a two week residency with the Visiting Artists Seriesin Davenport, Iowa. While on tour, PRISMhas presented master classes and composer forums at notable institutions,including the Curtis Institute of Music, the Oberlin Conservatory, PurdueUniversity, the Universities of Michigan, Illinois, and Southern California,and the Interlochen Arts Academy.
Members ofPRISM are Matthew Levy, Timothy McAllister, Zachary Shemon, and TaimurSullivan. The PRISM Quartet serves as artists/clinicians for the Selmer Companyand performs exclusively on Selmer saxophones.