March 31, 2016

SVSU welcomes brass quartet Cones and Tones for concert

Saginaw Valley State University will showcase brass quartet Cones and Tones during the next Rhea Miller Concert Series installment Saturday, April 2. The performance, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Rhea Miller Recital Hall, is free and open to the public.

Cones and Tones is an exciting new project featuring four eclectic musical veterans. The brainchild of J.D. Shaw, longtime arranger and horn player from Boston Brass, the group combines Shaw's stellar classical and jazz arrangements with original compositions by pianist and musical traveler David Cutler.

The group is anchored by veteran tuba virtuoso Andrew Hitz, while multi-instrumentalist and comedian Lance LaDuke rounds out this diverse and energetic quartet. The audience can expect a little of everything, from beautiful melodies to virtuosic showpieces, presented in a fun and funky audience-friendly show.

J.D. Shaw is an associate professor of horn at the University of South Carolina. He was formerly the French hornist with the internationally acclaimed Boston Brass where he was creative director, music arranger and co-owner of the ensemble. Shaw is an active solo artist and travels extensively throughout the United States as well as many countries in North America, Europe, and Asia. In addition, Shaw has also been a featured performer on National Public Radio's Performance Today and the CBS Morning Show.

The Rhea Miller Concert Series is made possible by a generous gift from Rhea E. Miller, a longtime friend of SVSU. Her gift, administered by the Miller Trust for Music Education, has provided the university with the opportunity to offer outstanding performances by nationally and internationally acclaimed musical artists at no cost to the audience since 1993. For more information, call (989) 964-4159 or email music@svsu.edu‌.