Portland State University: Breathe, Set, Play- Saxophone Sounds of Spring

Breathe, Set, Play: Saxophone Sounds of Spring welcomes the season with an evening of vibrant, expressive music at Portland State University. Hosted and performed by Mark Pipes, Instructor of Saxophone at PSU, the concert features the Portland Saxophone Ensemble—a collective of professionally trained saxophonists who bring together artistry, energy and diverse musical perspectives.

The program celebrates the saxophone’s remarkable range, blending jazz-inflected classics, folk-inspired rhythms and contemporary works that reflect motion, breath and renewal. From the buoyant elegance of George Gershwin’s Three Preludes and the fiery flair of Pedro Iturralde’s Czardas to the atmospheric soundscapes of Patrick Houlihan’s Snoqulmie Passages and Cassio Vianna’s Fragments of Brazil, the evening moves seamlessly between styles and moods. Works by Shane Valle, a founding member of the Portland Saxophone Ensemble, and Isaac Boone round out a program that feels fresh, playful and deeply expressive.

Set in the intimate Lincoln Recital Hall, this all-ages concert invites audiences to experience the saxophone as a voice of spring—alive with color, warmth and forward momentum.