Department of Music
Siskiyou Saxophone Quartet
The Siskiyou Saxophone Quartet began in 1997 as a vehicle for SOU Saxophone Professor Rhett Bender to educate and nurture the saxophone studio. By performing alongside their teacher, students learned challenging repertoire, worked with composers on new works, performed at saxophone conferences and toured in Mexico and China. Now ten years later original student member Angel McDonald; a professional teacher and performer; and Rhett Bender, are joined by professional saxophonists Steve Davidson, alto and Vicki Purslow, tenor.
The Siskiyou Saxophone Quartet has performed at both regional and national conferences of the North American Saxophone Alliance, the XIIIth World Saxophone Congress, and toured Mexico in 2001 and Sichuan, China in 2005. The SSQ has been invited to teach in residence at the Sichuan Conservatory of Classical Music, Chengdu, China in May 2008. Numerous composers have written or arranged works for the SSQ including Todd Barton, Mark Jacobs, Mark Knipple, Carleton Macy, Hu Xiao-ou, John Cooper and Yi Jiayi.
Dr. Rhett Bender is an Associate Professor of Music at Southern Oregon University where he teaches studio saxophone and clarinet. During the summer he serves as Director of both the Ashland Chamber Music Workshop and the Britt Festival's Saxophone Workshop. Additionally, he is the Region 1 Director of the North American Saxophone Alliance (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming). Rhett frequently teaches in-residence at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in Chengdu, China. He has been a member of the critically acclaimed Oregon Shakespeare Festival as a Green Show performer and on stage musician in the 2003 production of As You Like It. Prior to his appointment at SOU, he taught at the University of Georgia, Georgia College in Milledgeville, Emory University in Atlanta, and the Georgia Governor's Honors Program for the Artistically Talented in Valdosta. An active soloist and clinician, Rhett has performed and presented master-classes through-out the U.S., Europe, China and Mexico including meetings of the 13th and 14th World Saxophone Congress, Montana Saxophone Festival, the College Music Society, the Kentucky Music Teachers Association, the Iowa Band Master's Association, the College Band Directors National Association, and the North American Saxophone Alliance. His solo performances can be heard on America's Millenium Tribute to Adolphe Sax, (Arizona University Recording CD 3063). Rhett Bender is a Yamaha Performing Artist and Clinician.
Originally from Medford, Steve Davidson is a versatile and creative saxophonists. Steve studied classical saxophone with Dr. J. Robert Moore at the University of Oregon and earned a Bachelor's in Saxophone Performance. He furthered his training with Dr. Joseph Wytko at Arizona State University where he received a Master's in Saxophone Performance Pedagogy. Steve has performed with several award winning saxophone quartets at the Carmel Chamber Music festival and Coleman Chamber Music Competition. Steve was also a featured soloist with the Phoenix symphony performing Ravel's Bolero with pianist Marvin Hamlish. He commissioned and performed the original work Chamberism by Stephen Ridley with percussionist Robert Van Sice at Camerata Pacifica in Santa Barbara. Steve's performances with jazz greats include Peter Erskine, John Faddis, T.S. Monk, Mel Martin, Joey Sellars, Frank Vignola, Bobby Shew, Tony Malaby, Richie Cole and Dom Moio. Steve currently lives in Medford, where he teaches privately, hosts JPR's Jazz Sunday and performs with Mambo Rico salsa ensemble and the Steve Davidson jazz quartet.
Dr. Vicki Purslow studied at the University of Pacific Conservatory of Music (Bachelor of Music and Doctor of Music Education) and California State University Sacramento (Master of Arts in Music Education). She studied jazz improvisation with Kim Park (Stan Kenton and Louie Bellson Orchestras), Guido (Dean) Fazio, and Mary Fettig Park (Marian McPartland and the Stan Kenton Orchestra). As a tenor saxophonist, Vicki has performed with Mel Torme, Joe Williams (Count Basie Orchestra), Dave Brubeck, Mike Vax, Will Kennedy (Yellow Jackets), Bobby Shew, Stan Mark, John Mader (Original Family Stone), and Mic Gillette (Tower of Power), and has performed in dozens of musicals playing soprano, alto, tenor, and bari saxophones; clarinet; bass clarinet; and flute. Vicki is currently Director of the SOU Medford campus and co-directing the Rogue Community College Jazz Band in Medford, Oregon.
Angel McDonald is an active performer and instructor of saxophone in the Rogue Valley. She has performed with the Ashland City Band, the Britt Festival Orchestra, the Rogue Valley Symphonic Band, the Southern Oregon Concert Band, the Rogue Valley Symphony, Rogue Music Theater, the Swing Kings and numerous other ensembles, including the orchestras for Ben Vereen, the Four Tops and the Temptations. Angel also maintains an active studio of saxophone students. Her students have competed at district and state contests and have received numerous awards. In addition to working as a freelance graphic artist, Angel is the Assistant to the Band Director at Ashland Middle School.
Alumni members of the Siskiyou Saxophone Quartet are Amanda Brooks, Jenifer Jaseau, Ian Pribil and Brent Weber
Performances are listed on the Recital Hall schedule.
Watch a recent performance
