A commission to compose a concerto for World Saxophone Congress featured performer Alan Yang* will enable Australian composer Kevin Purcell to tour China to conduct the work.

Kevin Purcell

Dr Purcell, the new Professor and Director of Music & Performing Arts at Central Queensland University, has been commissioned to compose the concerto in the style of the Butterfly Concerto for violin.

He has also been asked to incorporate the theme of Chinese Valentine's Day. (On Chinese Valentine's Day, people in love like to go to the temple of Matchmaker and pray for their love and the possible marriage in China).

Dr Purcell said he was looking forward to touring China with Alan Yang and a hand-picked ensemble to perform the new arrangement in China after the World Saxophone Congress wraps up.

The World Saxophone Congress is due to be held in Bangkok from July 8-12 and attracts around 1000 saxophonists and other musicians from all over the world.

* Before migrating to Australia, where he now teaches saxophone at Victoria's Scotch College, Alan Yang played with the Chinese National Wind Symphony and Wuhan State Symphony. While in China he performed at state functions for Queen Elizabeth II (1985) and President Ronald Regan (1987) and at the XI Asian Games. He participated in recordings for national television, radio broadcasts and movie soundtracks and made concert tours to more than 20 cities in China.

Alan Yang

He has published a book called How to Play Saxophone, has released a CD of original compositions entitled Living as a Migrant and started the Chinese International Saxophone Website http://www.saxdragon.com/ . Among his qualifications is a Master of Music Performance (Classical Saxophone).

Alan Yang 
Alan Yang
Kevin Purcell