Biography
The Donald Sinta Quartet, First Prize Winner of the Concert Artists Guild Competition, has earned praise from audiences and critics alike for its virtuosic performances, compelling recordings and distinctive repertoire. Hailed as “…a tight-knit ensemble exploding with power and virtuosity and an un-concealable ambition to connect with its newly found listeners” (Boston Musical Intelligencer), the DSQ performs entirely from memory, which strengthens an already palpable connection with its audiences. Named for its mentor, legendary University of Michigan Saxophone Professor Donald Sinta, the quartet’s most recent competition successes include First Prize in the Winds group at the 2017 M-Prize Chamber Arts Competition and were Gold Medalist of the 2018 Fischoff Competition.
The Donald Sinta Quartet’s repertoire is diverse, ranging from commissions by today’s emerging composers to standards from the saxophone quartet literature to transcriptions by master composers such as Dvorak, Schubert and Shostakovich. In 2019 they released their debut recording, Collider, on CAG Records featuring new works for saxophone quartet. The group gave the World Premiere of Bolcom’s own transcription of his Concerto Grosso with Concert Band, joining the University of Michigan Symphony Band in 2011 for performances at Los Angeles’ Walt Disney Concert Hall, Beijing’s National Center for the Performing Arts and the Shanghai Conservatory. The quartet’s subsequent concerto recording garnered praise: Audiophile Audition declared them “superb musicians” and American Record Guide called it “the highlight of the album.”
Recent career highlights include DSQ’s New York recital debut at Weill Recital Hall, Purdue University Convocations, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Chautauqua Institution, Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, Rockport Chamber Music Festival, Music from Angel Fire and in Michigan at the Great Lakes Music Festival the Detroit Institute of Arts. Among the ensemble’s extensive educational outreach activities, they recently enjoyed extended residencies for Joplin Pro Musica (MO) and Anchorage Concert Association, both culminating with performances as part of their season series.
Founded and still based in Michigan, DSQ’s members are all Selmer-Paris Artists.
Audio
David Kechley: Rush
Dvorak: String Quartet in F Major Op. 96, 'American Quartet', Molto vivace
Thierry Escaich: Tango Virtuoso
Gregory Wanamaker: Speed Metal Organum Blues (2004)
Glazunov: Saxophone Quartet in B Flat Major, Op. 109, Premiere Partie
Grieg: Holdberg Suite, Rigaudon (Allegro con brio)
David Maslanka: Recitation Book, Fanfare/Variations, Durch Adams Fall (excerpt)
Annike Socolofsky: Bulgarity (2013)
Roger Zare: LHC (2012), Continuum (excerpt)
William Bolcom: Concerto Grosso for Saxophone Quartet and Band (2011), Badiniere
Video
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The Green Groves of Erin/The Flowers of Red Hill
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Gyorgy Ligeti Six Bagetelles
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Marc Mellits Black for Saxophone Quartet
Press
- Quotes
“The Sinta plays with astonishing virtuosity, subtly beautiful phrasing and exquisite ensemble no matter how rhythmically complex the music is.”
– Palm Beach Daily News“…immensely entertaining…they really are superb musicians!”
– Audiophile Audition“Audiences are immediately struck by their energy, passion, and love of sharing their individual talents as a single voice. They need to be heard!”
– Donald Sinta, Saxophone Professor at University of Michigan - Reviews
Repertoire
- Programs
Around the World in 80 Minutes
Rush (2002) David Kechley (b. 1947) Quartettsatz in C minor (1820) Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Introductions et variations sur un Gabriel Pierne (1863-1937)
Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintet (1953) György Ligeti (1923-2006)/arr. DSQ
Bulgarity (2013, commissioned by DSQ) Annika Socolofsky (b. 1990)
-Intermission-
Quatuor pour Saxophones op. 109 (1932) Alexander Glazunov (1865-1936)
Tango Virtuoso (1991) Thierry Escaich (b. 1965)
Red Pine (2014; commissioned by DSQ) Kristin Kuster (b. 1973)
Michael Nyman Suite Michael Nyman (b. 1944)
Speed Metal Organum Blues (2004) Gregory Wanamaker (b. 1968)No Strings Attached
Transcriptions by the DSQ from works originally written for String Quartet/Orchestra
String Quartet op. 96 in F Major “American” (1893) Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
Adagio from String Quartet, Op. 11 (1936) Samuel Barber (1910-1981)
Allegro molto from String Quartet Op. 59, No. 3 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
-Intermission-
String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 110 (1960) Dmitri Shostakovich (1905-1975)
Holberg Suite, Op. 40 (1884) Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)Then and Now
Rush (2002) David Kechley (b. 1947)
Quartettsatz in C minor (1820) Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Phantoms (2013, commissioned by DSQ) Natalie Moller (b. 1990)
*Winner of 2013 DSQ Composition Competition
Introductions et variations sur un Gabriel Pierne (1863-1937)
Tango Virtuoso (1991) Thierry Escaich (b. 1965)
-Intermission-
String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 110 (1960) Dmitri Shostakovich (1905-1975)
Michael Nyman Suite Michael Nyman (b. 1944)Z4430 (2014) Roger Zare (b. 1985)
*DSQ Commission