Koffman will be playing Alexander Glazunov's Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Strings as part of a "Classical Connections" concert hosted by the Teaching Company's Robert Greenberg, which also features Russian music by the late Romantic period composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Sergei Prokofiev, whose compositions were influenced by jazz music of the early 20th century. Music Director Edward Cumming will conduct Prokofiev's Suite from Lt. Kije as well as movements from his Symphony No. 1, "Classical"; plus movements from Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2.
Prior to joining the faculty of The Hartt School in 2003, Koffman held positions as Assistant Professor of Saxophone at Penn State University, Assistant Professor of Saxophone at the University of New Mexico, and taught at Boston University. Recent performances have taken her to Italy, New Zealand, China, and Argentina. Koffman has been a featured soloist with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, the Pennsylvania Centre Chamber Orchestra, and the Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra. She is also a member of the contemporary chamber music duo "The Irrelevants," with violist Tim Deighton. Koffman is a graduate with high honors from the University of Michigan where she studied with Donald Sinta, and the University of North Texas where she studied with James Riggs and Eric Nestler.
Hartt students and faculty have performed frequently in Hartford Symphony Orchestra programs in 2007 and 2008. Students from the Hartt Community Division perform pre-concert performances one half-hour before each Masterworks Series program. Cellist Emily Taubl performed Tchaikovsky at the "Classical Connections" concerts, and students from the Hartt Music Theater program took part in "The New Year Begins! Blue Danube" concerts, in January 2008.
Community Division ballet dancers appeared with the Hartford Symphony during the "Holiday POPS! Spectacular" concerts at the Connecticut Convention Center in December 2007. The Connecticut Children's Chorus has appeared at "Holiday POPS! Spectacular" for the past two seasons, and also sang as part of the combined choirs on "Carmina Burana" in May 2007. The Hartford Symphony Orchestra performed the world premiere of Hartt Professor of Composition and Theory Stephen Michael Gryc's "Passaggi: Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra" at the "Classical Connections" concerts in March 2007. Hartt student vocalists Anthony Fett, James Moreira, Jill Rensing, percussionists Tim Broscious and Gene Koshinski, saxophonist Steve Walsh, and the male chorus from Hartt's production of The Music Man, under the direction of Michael Morris, were all featured on the "Connecticut Collegiate All-Stars" POPS! concert in February 2007.
Classical Connections Series presented by United Technologies. Robert Greenberg's appearances are made possible by a gift from Robinson & Nancy Grover.-- www.hartfordsymphony.org
