Ashu
{{for multi|the given name|Ashu (given name)|old province of Japan|Awa Province (Tokushima)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Ashu
| image = File:Ashu (Cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| image_size =
| landscape =
| birth_name = Ashu
| alias =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = California, United States
| origin =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| genre = Classical
| occupation = Musician
| instrument = Saxophone
| years_active =
| label =
| associated_acts =
| website = [http://www.ashuonline.com/ ashuonline.com]
}}
Ashu is an American saxophone soloist.
{{cite web
| work=timeslive.co.za
| title=Sunday Times: Blowin' with the Orchestra
| url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/2011/06/11/blowin-with-the-orchestra
| accessdate=23 December 2012
}} He has won numerous international and national awards and has performed solo concerts throughout the world.
{{cite web
|publisher=www.naumburgconcerts.org
|title=Naumburg Orchestral Concerts at NY Central Park
|url=http://www.naumburgconcerts.org/artist.php?view=cal&cid=1600
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084154/http://www.naumburgconcerts.org/artist.php?view=cal&cid=1600
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=4 March 2016
|accessdate=23 December 2012
}} He has developed a trailblazing career as the first and only full-time concert saxophone soloist.
| publisher=www.marinarts.org
| title=Ashu & Alexandre Moutouzkine
| url=https://www.marinarts.org/event/ashu-alexandre-moutouzkine/
| accessdate=23 November 2021
| publisher=www.sasomusic.org
| title=SASO performs Glazunov concerto March 17-19
| date=17 February 2017
| url=https://sasomusic.org/saso-performs-glazunov-concerto-march-17-19/
| accessdate=24 November 2021
}}
Biography and career
Ashu has performed solo concerts throughout Great Britain, Finland, Norway, Russia, South Africa, New Zealand, Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria, Portugal, French West Indies, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Canada, and the USA.
{{cite web
|publisher=www.sfcv.com
|title=San Francisco Classical Voice
|url=http://www.sfcv.org/event/firehouse-arts-center/classical-saxophonist-ashu
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415194654/http://www.sfcv.org/event/firehouse-arts-center/classical-saxophonist-ashu
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=15 April 2013
|accessdate=23 December 2012
}}
Ashu has been praised by critics for his charismatic and communicative performance style. The Chicago Tribune stated that he "possesses a deep musicality which pours through his playing and hooks the audience" and the Dallas Morning News claimed "he’s just as much fun to watch as to listen to."
| publisher=www.cbslocal.com
| title=CBS
| url=http://events.sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/pleasanton_ca/events/ashu-classical-saxophonist-/E0-001-046119182-3
| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118202713/http://events.sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/pleasanton_ca/events/ashu-classical-saxophonist-/E0-001-046119182-3
| url-status=dead
| archive-date=18 January 2013
| accessdate=23 December 2012
}}
He has performed recitals and concertos with orchestras at venues including Carnegie Hall, Ravinia Festival, Vienna Konzerthaus, Zurich Tonhalle, and Kravis Center. In 2008, he performed with the Naumburg Orchestral Concerts, in the Naumburg Bandshell, Central Park, in the summer series.{{Cite web |title=Naumburg Orchestral Concerts |url=https://naumburgconcerts.org/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Naumburg Orchestral Concerts |language=en-US}}
He has recently been invited to perform concertos with major orchestras in Vienna, New York City, Chicago, St. Petersburg, Lisbon, Montreal, Bremen, Edmonton, Cape Town, Prague, and more.
Ashu was selected as the winner of the prestigious "Audience Award" at the renowned International Musical Olympus Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia, competing against the First Prize winners of the world’s foremost string, piano and voice competitions.
{{cite web
| publisher=www.goldcountrymedia.com
| title=Music on the Divide presents Ashu in Concert
| url=https://goldcountrymedia.com/news/135395/music-on-the-divide-presents-ashu-in-concert/
| accessdate=23 November 2021
| publisher=www.mtdemocrat.com
| title=Music on the Divide presents Ashu in Concert
| date=8 March 2019
| url=https://www.mtdemocrat.com/prospecting/music-on-the-divide-presents-ashu-in-concert/
| accessdate=24 November 2021
}} The festival’s honorary committee included Yo-Yo Ma, Daniel Barenboim, and Valery Gergiev.
{{cite web
| publisher=www.lcweekly.com
| title=Pizzazz to Burn
| date=10 February 2015
| url=https://lcweekly.com/arts/music/pizzazz-to-burn/
| accessdate=23 November 2021
}}
He has been featured in interview and performance on NBC, CBS, NPR, and more.
{{cite web
| publisher=www.ashuonline.com
| title=Ashu Interviews
| url=http://www.ashuonline.com/interviews
| accessdate=23 December 2012
}}
Personal, influences
Ashu currently is based in the Chicago area. On several occasions he has expressed his influence and admiration for artists including Luciano Pavarotti, Jascha Heifetz, and Frank Sinatra. Ashu also arranges works for saxophone which he performs in his concerts.
{{cite web
| publisher=www.playbillarts.com
| title=Playbill Arts
| url=http://www.playbillarts.com/features/article/8663.html
| accessdate=23 December 2012
}}
Awards and successes
Winner:
International Musical Olympus Festival “Audience Award” (St. Petersburg, Russia), Salon De Virtuosi Career Grant (NYC), International Houston Symphony Concerto Competition, National KSO Concerto Competition, National SVSO Concerto Competition, W.A.F.A Concerto Competition, Interlochen Governor's Award, (Grand Prize) Houston Symphony Flores-Smith Competition, Northwestern University Concerto Competition.{{cite web
| publisher=www.ashuonline.com
| title=Awards & Competitions Wins
| url=http://www.ashuonline.com/awards.html
| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130117080412/http://www.ashuonline.com/awards.html
| url-status=dead
| archive-date=17 January 2013
| accessdate=23 December 2012
{{cite web
|publisher=www.musicalolympus.org
|title=Musical Olympus Foundation
|url=http://www.musicalolympus.org/index.php/our_musicians/ashu/
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302145816/http://www.musicalolympus.org/index.php/our_musicians/ashu/
|url-status=usurped
|archive-date=2 March 2012
|accessdate=23 December 2012
}}
First Prizes:
American Opera Society Competition, International Heida Hermanns Competition, National Federation of Music Clubs Competition, National Midland-Odessa Competition, International Kingsville Wind Instrumentalist Competition, National Lennox Competition, National George S. Howard Competition, National Alliance for Excellence Competition.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.ashuonline.com Official website]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashu}}
Category:Northwestern University alumni
Category:Interlochen Center for the Arts alumni
Category:American male saxophonists
Category:Musicians from California
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)