Ashu

For the given name, see Ashu (given name). For old province of Japan, see Awa Province (Tokushima).
Ashu
Ashu, Live in Concert with Orchestra
Background information
Birth nameAshu
BornCalifornia, United States
GenresClassical
OccupationMusician
InstrumentSaxophone
Websiteashuonline.com

Ashu is an American saxophone soloist.[1] He has won numerous international and national awards and has performed solo concerts throughout the world.[2] He has developed a trailblazing career as the first and only full-time concert saxophone soloist. [3][4]

Biography and career

Ashu has performed solo concerts throughout Great Britain, Finland, Norway, Russia, South Africa, New Zealand, Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria, Portugal, French West Indies, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Canada, and the USA.[5]

Ashu has been praised by critics for his charismatic and communicative performance style. The Chicago Tribune stated that he "possesses a deep musicality which pours through his playing and hooks the audience" and the Dallas Morning News claimed "he’s just as much fun to watch as to listen to." [6]

He has performed recitals and concertos with orchestras at venues including Carnegie Hall, Ravinia Festival, Vienna Konzerthaus, Zurich Tonhalle, Kravis Center, and New York's Central Park. He has recently been invited to perform concertos with major orchestras in Vienna, New York City, Chicago, St. Petersburg, Lisbon, Montreal, Bremen, Edmonton, Cape Town, Prague, and more.[2]

Ashu was selected as the winner of the prestigious "Audience Award" at the renowned International Musical Olympus Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia, competing against the First Prize winners of the world’s foremost string, piano and voice competitions.[7][8] The festival’s honorary committee included Yo-Yo Ma, Daniel Barenboim, and Valery Gergiev.[9]

He has been featured in interview and performance on NBC, CBS, NPR, and more.[10]

Personal, influences

Ashu currently is based in the Chicago area. On several occasions he has expressed his influence and admiration for artists including Luciano Pavarotti, Jascha Heifetz, and Frank Sinatra. Ashu also arranges works for saxophone which he performs in his concerts.[11]

Awards and successes

Winner: International Musical Olympus Festival “Audience Award” (St. Petersburg, Russia), Salon De Virtuosi Career Grant (NYC), International Houston Symphony Concerto Competition, National KSO Concerto Competition, National SVSO Concerto Competition, W.A.F.A Concerto Competition, Interlochen Governor's Award, (Grand Prize) Houston Symphony Flores-Smith Competition, Northwestern University Concerto Competition.[2][12][13]

First Prizes: American Opera Society Competition, International Heida Hermanns Competition, National Federation of Music Clubs Competition, National Midland-Odessa Competition, International Kingsville Wind Instrumentalist Competition, National Lennox Competition, National George S. Howard Competition, National Alliance for Excellence Competition.

References

  1. ^ "Sunday Times: Blowin' with the Orchestra". timeslive.co.za. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Naumburg Orchestral Concerts at NY Central Park". www.naumburgconcerts.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  3. ^ "Ashu & Alexandre Moutouzkine". www.marinarts.org. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  4. ^ "SASO performs Glazunov concerto March 17-19". www.sasomusic.org. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  5. ^ "San Francisco Classical Voice". www.sfcv.com. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  6. ^ "CBS". www.cbslocal.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  7. ^ "Music on the Divide presents Ashu in Concert". www.goldcountrymedia.com. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Music on the Divide presents Ashu in Concert". www.mtdemocrat.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Pizzazz to Burn". www.lcweekly.com. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Ashu Interviews". www.ashuonline.com. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  11. ^ "Playbill Arts". www.playbillarts.com. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  12. ^ "Awards & Competitions Wins". www.ashuonline.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  13. ^ "Musical Olympus Foundation". www.musicalolympus.org. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.