The Saint Martha – Yamaha 2010 – 2011 Concert Series and the John L. and James L. Knight Foundation will present the Italian Saxophone Quartet at 7:30 Saturday evening, March 12 at St. Martha in The Shores, 9301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami Shores.

The Italian Saxophone Quartet was formed in 1982, bringing together four of the most established soloists in their field. In 1984 and 1985, they won several chamber music competitions and were awarded first prize in the ‘Premier Ancona’ by Goffredo Petrassi. Since then they have given more than 1000 concerts in Italy, USA, Japan, Greece, Germany, France, Russia, Lebanon and Sweden.  This concert will feature works by Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Gershwin, Joplin, Piazzolla and more. The concert will feature a special performance. Concert chair Julie Williamson’s late father, Freddie Stulce, was a saxophonist and arranger for the great Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. His sax, a revered 75 year-old Selmer Cigar Cutter, will be played by the Quartet’s leader, Federico Mondelci, for the first time in public since the 1950’s.

In addition to the Saturday evening concert at St. Martha, for which a number of tickets are offered to students through the Parent Academy, the Quartet will perform at  a local school.  The concert will feature an exhibit of art by students of  South Dade Senior High School, displayed at the post concert wine/juice/cheese-and-more reception.

The St. Martha – Yamaha Concert Series is in its 7^th SRO season. Founded on the idea of  “world class concerts at movie ticket prices, and the popcorn is free”, the series has delivered international artists like the Quartet with $10 tickets and an after-concert reception that is always great fun for the audience and the artists. Tickets can be obtained from the parish office, 305-751-0005 or at saintmartha.TIX.com.  Email [email protected] for information or to be on the series’ email notification list.