Saxophonist Andrew Cummings to perform Sept. 20 at JU

The Jacksonville University College of Fine Arts Performing Arts Series will present saxophonist Andrew Cummings in concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20 in Terry Hall on the JU campus. There is no admission charge and the public is invited.

Cummings will perform an engaging program of recital works for saxophone and piano with Dr. Scott Watkins, Associate Professor of Piano at JU. The program will feature dances and suites from the classical repertoire, including works by Fisher Tull, William Bolcom, Paul Bonneau, Erwin Dressel, Karel Husa and Maurice Whitney.

A versatile musician, Cummings has performed professional engagements ranging from a wedding in Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park to a basketball game on the deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan. He holds a Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from Florida State University, where he also earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Saxophone Performance.  Cummings is a saxophonist with Navy Band Southeast in Jacksonville.

As a Navy musician, Cummings has played at Daytona International Speedway, EverBank Field, the Amelia Island and Savannah jazz festivals, and in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He has performed in wind ensembles, saxophone quartets, Dixieland bands, big bands, and ceremonial/marching bands in styles including classical, jazz, rock, Latin, country and funk. 

Cummings studied saxophone with Patrick Meighan and Dane Whipkey. His conducting teachers were Alexander Jiménez and Laszlo Marosi. He has conducted in master classes for leading figures in the orchestral world such as Marin Alsop, David Hoose and Kate Tamarkin, and he has participated in workshops with the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet, the New Century Saxophone Quartet, and James Houlik.