Chris Rutkowski

Composer | Pianist

Home

Biography

Music

News

Reviews

Recordings

Catalog

Jazz and Standards

Photo Gallery

Contemporary

Blog

Contact

Mailing List

Links

Luna Media

News

Saxophonist Thomas Walsh Releases New CD

August 1, 2010

Thomas Walsh (Prof. of Saxophone at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University) has recorded the newly revised Dervish for saxophone quartet on a CD released commercially In July 2010. Intersections (Arizona University Recordings) features works that blend musical traditions, meeting at the focus of the classical saxophone.

Rutkowski Joins Faculty of IPFW

April 10, 2010

Chris Rutkowski has joined the Music Department at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN. As Clinical Assistant Professor of Music Composition and Technology, he teaches composition and jazz piano, and leads the IPFW/Sweetwater Music Technology Program.

Indiana U. Records Sax Concerto

Dec. 9, 2008

The Wind Ensemble of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University recorded the Concerto for Saxophone and Wind Ensemble on Nov. 19, 2008. Thomas Walsh was the soloist and Stephen Pratt was the conductor. NEW: Audio posted, blog thread on editing/enhancing recording in Logic.

Jazz CD: Heather Ramsey

Jan. 31, 2009

Chris Rutkowski, serving as pianist and music director, has recorded a new CD with vocalist Heather Ramsey. So Many Stars was commercially released on Nov. 30 at a CD release party at the Jazz Kitchen (Indianapolis). The studio was Airtime in Bloomington, IN, and features bassist Frank Smith and drummer Kenny Phelps and saxophonist Tom Walsh.

Individual tracks can be downloaded from iTunes (search: Heather Ramsey), or purchased from CD Baby.

Heather interviewed on WFYI (NPR Indianapolis).

"So Many Stars" has been montaged by MELEGORM on YouTube. Watch

pictures
listen to selected rough mixes

Indiana Arts Commission Grant

June 25, 2007

The Indiana Arts Commission awarded Chris Rutkowski a Project Grant as part of its Individual Artists Program. The funds will support the development of a home studio for the creation of electronic music and multi-media. The central project will be the composition and realization of a work for computer and violin for Prof. Davis Brooks of Butler University (see below).

Saxophone Concerto Consortium Commission

Sept.25, 2008

The Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble began its series of premiers by commission consortium members at the Jacobs School of Music (Indiana University, Bloomington) on March 25, 2007. Peter Jacobi, classical music critic of the Bloomington Herald-Times, awarded the piece "special plaudits for the imagination displayed in its content (and) the craftsmanship manifested in the orchestration..."

read the review
picture

The Wind Ensembles of the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho (Alan Gemberling, Dir.), the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, Emory University and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater form the consortium. The Commission Coordinator is saxophonist Thomas Walsh of Indiana University. Those interested in joining the consortium can contact the coordinator by email.

The Concerto is in the midst of its series of premiers with the following performances:

Oct. 9, 2008
Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho (Alan Gemberling, Dir.) Vanessa Sielert, soloist

April 19, 2008
North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference, University of South Carolina, Columbia. Arrangement for piano and saxophone. Thomas Walsh, alto saxophone

Spring, 2011 (date TBA)
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (Glenn Hayes, Dir.) Matthew Sintchak, soloist.

April 20, 2011
Emory University (Scott Stewart, Dir.)

Recent and Upcoming Jazz Performance

April 16, 2010; 7:30 PM
Take the A Train, arr Rutkowski. IPFW Jazz Ensemble, Auer Performance Hall IPFW, Ft. Wayne, IN

April 6, 2010; 7:30 PM
IPFW Faculty Jazz Combo, Rhinehart Recital Hall IPFW, Ft. Wayne, IN

Nov. 6, 2009; 7:30-10:30 PM
The Jazz Kitchen, Indianapolis. Chris Rutkowski Quartet with Heather Ramsey

Oct. 27, 2009
IPFW Faculty Jazz Combo, Sweetwater Performance Theater, Ft. Wayne, IN

Oct. 4, 2009; 1:00-4:00 PM
J
azz on the Monon, Carmel, IN. Chris Rutkowski Quartet with Heather Ramsey

Recent and Upcoming Performances

October 12, 2010; 7:30 PM
Passages for clarinet, cello and piano. Ronen Chamber Ensemble. Hilbert Circle Theater, Indianapolis, IN

March 22, 2010; 7:30 PM
Fireworks for string quartet: New Century String Quartet. Cristel DeHaan Fine Arts Center, Indianapolis, IN

Oct. 24, 2009
Dervish for saxophone quartet: Ancia Saxophone Quartet. University of Minnesota

Oct. 22, 2009
Dervish for saxophone quartet: Ancia Saxophone Quartet. University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

May 15, 2009
Dervish for saxophone quartet: Ancia Saxophone Quartet. Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN.

Back to Top

Home Biography Music News Reviews Recordings Catalog Jazz and Standards Photo Gallery Contemporary Blog Contact Mailing List Links Luna Media