| Who can participate? Junior High and High School students, with a minimum of two years ensemble experience, and with teacher referral, can audition. In addition, college students, adult players and seasoned professionals are also encouraged to audition. Registration and auditions are required. |
When is the performance? June 26, 2017 at 7:00 pm at the Hart Hall (inside William S. Hart Park). 24151 Newhall Ave., Newhall, California |
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When are the auditions?
Auditions are held in May and June.
For auditions, call 661-291-1729 or send email to |
What kind of music should I expect? Expect the unexpected. Come prepared for some movie themes, classical, marches, tangos, rags, jigs and reels. |
| Are there any fees involved? Student participants pay a fee to cover music, rental space and insurance. College and pro players are expected to mentor and help balance the instrumentation in lieu of a participation fee. |
Are there tickets available for the Saxtravaganza Concert? No, it's FREE. |
Saxtravaganza takes the stage for 18th year!
SAXTRAVAGANZA will be playing a free concert, on Sunday, June 25, at Hart Hall (inside William S. Hart Park). Santa Clarita's 20-piece all-saxophone ensemble, directed by Kathleen Maxwell, will perform a wide variety of music, including marches, ragtime, swing, classical, and folk tunes. Fresh arrangements from area composers will also be featured. Saxtravaganza is made up of some of the area's finest saxophone students, adult players, teachers and professional players who come together for 1 week each year, to mentor and to be mentored. Invite your friends and family to our 18th annual SAXTRAVAGANZA.
While the sound from ensembles of this size is rare today, this wasn't always the case. According to Mrs. Maxwell, there were very large ensembles, with as many as 100 players, formed during the early part of the twentieth century. Even though the saxophone's popularity may have been driven by its use in ragtime and vaudeville, Mrs. Maxwell attributes the traveling organizations of John Philip Sousa, Patrick Gilmore and others as being an even bigger factor in the first saxophone craze. Since then, there have been a few scattered revivals of large saxophone bands, but nothing that has been meaningful until about 10 years ago. New groups are now forming and composers are eagerly writing new and demanding music for them.
Saxtravaganza was started 18 years ago by Kathleen Maxwell, as an outgrowth of her research in historical saxophone performance. Since that time, the group has grown into an important mentoring group for this area's saxophonists. Many of the performers are students and former students of Mrs. Maxwell's, as well as students from other private teaching studios and band programs. Seasoned professionals and adult hobbyists are also welcome to participate in the one-week workshop. For more information about our group, you may contact Mrs. Maxwell at (661) 291-1729. Website: www.saxtravaganza.com
This concert is free and open to the public.