Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

03/03/08
Story by Peggy Graham

Saxophonist Tim Timmons Headlines Recital
   
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. ­– Saxophonist Tim Timmons, accompanied on piano by Patricia Higdon, will perform at noon Monday, March 31, in the Recital Hall of the Carlsen Center, Johnson County Community College, as part of the free Ruel Joyce Recital Series, which features Kansas City classical musicians.

Timmons, associate professor and chair of the Instrumental Studies Division, the Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri-Kansas City, has performed by invitation for regional and international conferences of the North American Saxophone Alliance and World Saxophone Congress. Among his solo performances with the Kansas City Symphony was his performance of David Amram's Saxophone Concerto, with the composer conducting. He made the first recording of Karel Husa's Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Concert Band with the Ithaca College Band. Composers such as Vaclav Nelhybel, Malcom Lewis, Raymond Luedeke and James Mobberley have written works for him to perform. He holds a  master of music degree from Northwestern University.

Higdon leads an active career as a chamber musician, teacher and coach. Immediately after completing graduate work at the Cleveland Institute of Music, she began working as coach/accompanist with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. She subsequently joined the faculty of the Conservatory of Music, UMKC, and received the Conservatory’s Excellence In Teaching award in 1995.  She is in constant demand as a pianist for master classes and recording sessions.  Higdon has performed with the  Kansas City Chorale and can be heard on two of their recordings: Fernhill and Words and Music. She performs with flutist James Hall as the Hall/Higdon Duo, and, in November 2004, the duo made their Carnegie Hall debut.  She is also keyboardist of the Chamber Music Society of Kansas City.

This is the concluding recital in the nine-week spring 2008 Ruel Joyce Recital Series, named for the longtime jazz bassist who headed the local musicians federation from 1977 until his death in 1989. The concerts are cosponsored by the JCCC humanities and music departments, Community Services and the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts. Admission is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call 913-469-8500, ext. 3605.