Judge

Dr. Nicki Roman

One of the most decorated saxophonists of her generation, Nicki Roman is known for “taking listeners on a tour of the saxophone’s capabilities, illustrating the vast tone and range of the instrument”. (Parma Recordings). As a soloist, she has been featured with the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Canarias’ Chamber Orchestra, Eastman Symphony Orchestra, Eastman Wind Ensemble, Illinois Wind Symphony, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Wind Ensemble, University of North Florida Orchestra, University of Southern Mississippi Wind Ensemble, Milwaukee Youth Wind Ensemble, and the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra. She has been a prize-winner at prestigious competitions such as the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Solo Competition, Music Teacher’s National Association Young Artist Solo Competition, William C. Byrd International Competition, and the International Kate Neal Kinley Memorial Fellowship. Her debut album, Unquiet Waters, was released in Fall 2021 under Parma Recordings and Ravello Records. 

Nicki is a core member of Splinter Reeds. The sum of their wide ranges of experience – in settings including free jazz, improvisation, electronic music, pop, punk and metal as well as classical – has enabled them to rapidly zero in on a distinct aesthetic identity. Recent concert engagements have included performances at New York City’s TIME:SPANS Festival, Dublin’s Music Current Festival, Chicago’s Constellation, San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center, Vancouver New Music, the Mondavi Performing Arts Center, Berkeley Art Museum, Festival of New American Music, Other Minds: The Nature of Music Series, and the Presidio Sessions series. 

In Fall 2024, she joined the faculty at the University of Illinois as Associate Professor of Saxophone. From 2018-2024, she served as Assistant Professor of Saxophone at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In addition, she is a member of Present Music and a saxophone consultant with Hal Leonard Publishing. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the Eastman School of Music where she served as Assistant Director of the Eastman Saxophone Project. She also holds degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of North Florida. She is a Selmer Paris Ambassador and Vandoren artist. 

Judge

Dr. Rami El-Farrah

Dr. Rami El-Farrah is a concert saxophonist known for his solo performances and as a member of both the Bel Cuore Quartet and the Austin Saxophone Ensemble. He is the author of the Dynamic Duos for Saxophone series (published by MusePub) and the etude book 64 Musical Studies (published by Southern Music). As an award-winning soloist and chamber musician, Dr. El-Farrah has performed extensively across the United States and Europe. He has been featured on several musical albums, with recent releases from the Bel Cuore Quartet and the Austin Saxophone Ensemble. 

Born in Tripoli, Libya Dr. El-Farrah’s emigration to Southern France and then to the U.S. shaped his worldview and work ethic with music. From the moment he started saxophone in his home town in San Diego, California, Rami knew it was his passion. From there he earned degrees from California State University, Fullerton and The University of Texas at Austin.

Currently, Dr. El-Farrah performs with groups such as the Austin Saxophone Ensemble, the Bel Cuore Quartet, the San Antonio Philharmonic, the Mid Texas Symphony, and the Symphony of the Hills. He also serves as the Associate Professor of Practice in saxophone at The University of Texas at San Antonio. As an arranger, Dr. El-Farrah continuously creates new works for his ensembles and others across the U.S., many of which have recorded his music, with some pieces appearing on the PML list.

Judge

Professor Carrie Koffman

Carrie Koffman is Professor of Saxophone at The Hartt School of Music, Dance and Theater at the University of Hartford. She also held positions as Lecturer at the Yale School of Music, Lecturer at Boston University, Assistant Professor at Penn State University, and Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico.

She has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, in 18 countries, and on six continents. Commissions and premieres include over 75 compositions. One review in Fanfare Magazinecalls her playing “suave, subtly nuanced, and technically secure in its every gesture,” while another refers to her “melting tone and touching sensitivity.” Music Web International describes her as “brilliant and dauntless.”

Current interests include her Voiced project, a series of compositions created to give voice to stories and experiences not normally expressed in classical music; her carries weight Performance Art Project, a contemplative endeavor conceived to explore what it means to carry weight in our society by performing on mountain summits and collecting stories from others creating contemplative experiences around the ideas of affect, influence, power, interconnection, and respect; the curation of site-specific projects; the application of social-emotional learning to the applied studio through the evolving pedagogy of listening and communication; and the use of original graphic notation in musical interpretation.

She is a founding member of the Committee for Gender Equity of the North American Saxophone Alliance and served as the project manager for CGE’s Community Engagement Initiative. She is also a founding faculty member of the American Saxophone Academy. Koffman holds a bachelors degree from the University of Michigan and a masters degree from the University of North Texas.

Koffman is a certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher and teaches Yoga for Performers. She is a Conn-Selmer artist and Vandoren artist.

Judge

Dr. Greg Rife

Greg Rife is a concert saxophonist and educator who has established a diverse and extensive performing and teaching career. Greg currently serves as Assistant Professor of Music at Southwestern Oklahoma State University where he teaches applied saxophone and music theory. Prior to his appointment at SWOSU, Greg previously served on the faculty of Lewis University as a music theory instructor, was the saxophone instructor in the Lincoln-Way Community High School district, and was the Assistant Band Director at Monmouth College. 

Greg is an active performer both as a soloist and as the tenor saxophonist of the award winning Colere Quartet. Recent performances include appearances as a concerto soloist with the University of Illinois Wind Symphony and Lockport Township High School Symphonic Band, world premier performances at various North American Saxophone Alliance National Conferences, and a series of performance and educational programs as part of the 2020 Fischoff Gold Medal Tour.

Greg has had competitive success including winning the prestigious Gold Medal at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, First Prize at the Plowman Chamber Music Competition, semi-finalist appearances at NASA solo and quartet competitions, State Winner of the MTNA Young Artist Solo Competition, and as a finalist appearance in the University of Iowa Concerto Competition. Greg has also performed a number of recitals, concerts, and masterclasses for audiences of all ages.

Greg holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in saxophone performance from the University of Iowa. During the 2019-2020 school year he served as the teaching assistant to world-renowned saxophonist and pedagogue, Dr. Kenneth Tse. Greg also earned both a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in saxophone performance degrees from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where he studied with Professor Debra Richtmeyer.

Judge

Dr. Shawna Pennock

Shawna Pennock is “rich and powerful, yet lightly effervescent” (Classical Voice of North Carolina) and “towering” (Textura). Pennock serves as Associate Director of the School of Music and Assistant Professor in Residence at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. At UNLV, she teaches saxophone lessons, instrumental pedagogy, and chamber music. 

Her new album Riparian is a collection of works utilizing the expressive capabilities of extended techniques, but in an approachable way for first time explorers of said techniques. “In Riparian, Dr. Shawna Pennock not only makes a virtuosic and artistic statement in her performance, but also bridges a commonly overlooked gap in saxophone pedagogy. This is far beyond technical demonstration.”- Nick Zoulek

Pennock has been teaching collegiate saxophone for 6 years at UNLV where her students have gone on to become music educators, continue to graduate studies, and develop a love for making music. She loves to work with highschool and middle school saxophonists too. Her highschool students have made Nevada All-State, gone on to study saxophone at large state universities such as University of Texas at Austin, University of South Carolina, and University of North Carolina School of the Arts, join regional military bands, and be invited to prestigious competitions such as Fischoff National Chamber Music.

Creator of the Live Warm-Up, an online experience for saxophonists to play long-tone puzzlers, articulation dance parties, scales, and stretches, Shawna began The Live Warm-Up during the Covid-19 pandemic as a way to stay motivated and connect with her students while in isolation. Since then, she has presented The Live Warm-Up at international music festivals and Universities across the United States. As of today, she has given the Live Warm-Up 90+ times and led groups as large as 50 online Zoom windows.

Pennock earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Georgia. She holds a Master of Music degree and Professional Artist certificate from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and a Bachelor of Music degree with an education certificate from The University of Iowa. Her former teachers include Connie Frigo, Taimur Sullivan, Kenneth Tse, and Robin Ciccotelli.

Judge

Dr. Jonathan Nichol

Dr. Jonathan Nichol is the Director of the School of Music at the University of Oklahoma (OU) and a Professor of Saxophone. An accomplished saxophonist, Dr. Nichol is known for his dynamic performances and dedication to new music. He has presented concerts across the United States and internationally in countries such as France, Italy, and Thailand.

Dr. Nichol is a founding member of the award-winning h2 quartet, which has garnered
significant acclaim in the chamber music world. The quartet won the prestigious Gold Medal at the 2007 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and the First Prize at the inaugural North American Saxophone Alliance Chamber Music Competition in 2008. The h2 quartet has released six albums on the Blue Griffin Label: Generations (2008), Times and Spaces (2010), Groove Machine (2012), Hard Line (2015), Enrapture (2016), and Infinity Mirror (2020). These recordings have been praised in industry publications, with Groove Machine being selected by the American Record Guide as one of the best chamber music recordings of 2012.

In addition to his work with the h2 quartet, Dr. Nichol has an impressive solo career. He has
premiered works by renowned composers such as Stacy Garrop, Marc Mellits, and Paquito D’Rivera. His solo and duo recordings include collaborations with the Boyd Street Brass Band, Billband, and h2/4 duo with Dr. Jeffrey Loeffert. Notably, his performance on Billband’s album Towards Daybreak was highlighted by NPR Music as one of the top 100 songs of 2013.

Dr. Nichol holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree (2010) and a Master of Music degree (2007) from Michigan State University, where he studied under Joseph Lulloff. He also earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree (2005) from Central Michigan University, studying with John Nichol.