Rob Buckland
Professor of Saxophone and Director of the Ark Ensemble
GRNCM, PPRNCM, FRNCM
Email: [email protected]
One to one teaching, chamber music coaching for SWBP ensembles, directing RNCM Saxophone Ensebmel and RNCM ArkEnsemble. Various lectures and presenttatoins as required. Co-Artistic Director of RNCM Saxophone Day
Rob is internationally acclaimed as one of the most distinctive and versatile saxophonists of his generation. Appearing as concerto and recital soloist with his Equivox Trio and with the Apollo Saxophone Quartet, he performs throughout the world. He has appeared as concerto soloist with the Chinese National Orchestra, Macau Chamber Orchestra, Austrian Radio Orchestra, CBSO, RLPO, Orchestra of Opera North and Slovenian Army Band.
He has commissioned and recorded music from many of today’s leading composers and recently released a recording of commissioned concertos with the RNCM Wind Orchestra. He regularly works with ensembles such as the Michael Nyman Band, London Saxophonic, BBC Philharmonic, Hallé and RLPO, as well as many jazz ensembles.
His compositions feature not only on the concert stage but are a popular part of the ABRSM, Trinity and Guildhall syllabi. Since 1997 he and Andy Scott (from 2000) and Carl Raven (from 2008) have established the UK’s largest and most active saxophone programme at the RNCM. Rob also co-directs the RNCM Saxophone Day, the UK’s largest annual saxophone event. In 2001, to mark 15 years of teaching at the RNCM, Rob published a major book Playing the Saxophone, (www.astute-music.com).
In 2021 he released a ground-breaking Solo CD featuring nine new worksfrom UK composers, and a suite of five works written by himself for solo saxophone and backing tracks. He also has new performance projects with the Apollo Saxophone Quartet, Gwilym Simcock and John Helliwell’s Big Band in the pipeline.
Current and Future Research
Selected highlights.
Towards the Lght – Saxophone & Piano CD 1998
The Time Is Now – CD with Equivox Trio 2006
Gameshow – Saxophone Concertos CD 2011
Cinnamon Concerto – recorded on CD of wind music of Martin Ellerby 2011
Duality CD – 2014
Just Because CD – 2021
Playing the Saxophone – major new book published 2011
New series of compositions for ABRSM Syllabus (Saxophone, Clarinet and Flute)
Apollo Saxophone Quartet – 8 CDs, 100+ commissions from some of the world’s leading composers 30th anniversary celebrated at RNCM Sax Day 2015, and new CD of commissions.
Commissions from Graham Fitkin, Michael Ball, Andy Scott, Nikki Iles, Poy Powell, Jason Rebello, Tim Garland, Barbara Thompson,
ASQ – new landmark CD with Barry Guy (2014)
Conducted RNCM Saxophone Orchestra at World Saxophone Congress 2012. Also produced RNCM Saxophoe Orchestra CD 2012.
Recorded and produced 4 commercial CDs 2012/13, 4 commercial CDs 2014,15 including Felonius Mornk Big Band, Brass dectet library CD, RB Solo CD, Jenni Watson Mulit-track/multi-media CD
Toured with Elvis Costello, Moondog & London Saxophonic, Michael Nyman Band, BBC Philharmonic, Apollo Saxophone Quartet, Equivox Trio, duo concert with Jason Rebello, Halle – Wonderful Town Tour, Royal Variety Show Band (2008/2010), Children In Need Rocks, (with Michael Buble & Andrea Boccelli), recorded many film scores, BBC proms, BBC Phil/Turnage premiere with Peter Erskine, John Adams City Noir (as soloist) with BBCSSO, live on Radio 3, RLPO with Wayne Shorter,
Saxophone soloist with CBSO, RLPO, Orch of Opera North – John Williams Saxophone Concerto (Escapades) 2009 conducted by John Wilson
Solo CD 2014 “Duality”, featuring world premiere recordings of music by Tim Garland, RB, Jason Rebello, Graham Fitkin, Barbara Thompson
Premiered Hilary Tann’s “Concerto – In the First Spinning Place” with NYWOW April 2015.
Compiling and publishing new book ‘Playing the Saxophone’
Ongoing commissioned, recording and premiering of new music, with Apollo Saxophone Quartet, Equivox Trio, Enesemble 10:10, major orchestras etc
All compositions published by www.astute-music.com
Composed new suite of solo works for saxophones, premiered at WSC, RNCM, Perth Conservatoire etc
Comissioned to write music for three books of new saxophone music for Trinity Publications, world wide distribution 2013
Apollo Saxophone Quartet CD 30th Anniversary – music by Keith Tippett, Michael Ball, Dinuk Wijeratne, Kenny Wheeler, Bob Mintzer
Solo tour of Australia, including masterclasses and cconcerts 2015 & 2016
World premiere of Barbara Thompson Concertio at World Saxophone Congress, Strasbourg 2015
2 new books of saxophone works included in ABRSM Syllabi for saxophone, and several flute and clarinet pieces in addition.
2016 New CD with Clare Teal/Halle Orchestra/Guy Barker
2016 New CD with Group S – featured as player, soloist and producer.
2019 New CD with Apollo Saxophone Quartet & Artvark Saxophone Quartet – 8 new works composed by the memeber sof the groups, jazz/classical crossover.
4 new works for solo saxophone and backing track to be published in 2019 by astute-music.com
New project with Gwilym Simcock (piano) Rob Buckland (saxophones) and string quartet, being recirded and performing in Summer 2019
New Concerto commission from Tim Garland for 2020, subject to funding.
New collabrative project for 2 saxophone and 2 pianos, with RNCM IVT Saxophione Tim McAllister. (2020)
New projects with Apollo Saxophone Quartet for 2021 onwards, include CD of 6 new works by UK composers, and a new project with the ASQ co-writing a new concert/CD project, subject to funding.
Undergraduate Teaching
Weekly 1 to 1 lessons.
Up to 2 weekly 2 hour classes, covering all aspects of saxophonic life – solo performance, quartet playing, arranging, composition, improvisation, jazz skills, promotional and marketing skills, programming advice, masterclasses with visiting players, recording session practice, doubling skills, saxophone orchestra rehearsals, etc
Regular Quartet and chamber coaching
Saxophone Orchestra rehearsals and concerts
Postgraduate Teaching
Weekly 1 to 1 lessons.
Up to 2 weekly 2 hour classes, covering all aspects of saxophonic life – solo performance, quartet playing, arranging, composition, improvisation, jazz skills, promotional and marketing skills, programming advice, masterclasses with visiting players, recording session practice, doubling skills, saxophone orchestra rehearsals, etc
Regular Quartet and chamber coaching
Saxophone Orchestra rehearsals and concerts
Selected Outputs
- Rob Buckland, Playing the Saxophone, ( www.astute-music.com, 2012).
- Rob Buckland Series of works for Saxophone/Saxophone & Piano, Quartet etc, 2012, Solo saxophone, Saxophone & Piano, Saxophone Quartet etc,
- Ball, Fitkin, Scott, Ter Veldhuis Gameshow – Saxophone Concertos CD with RNCM Wind Orchestra, RNCM Wind Orchestra, Clark Rundell/Mark Heron, Rob Buckland & guest John Harle Saxophone & Wind Orchestra, Sospiro Records, Nov 2011
- Corea, Yoshimatsu, Fitkin, Iles, Powell, Scott Towards the Light, Rob Buckland, peter Lawson & Simone Rebello Saxophone & Piano/Saxophone & Vibraphone, Quartz, 1998
- Rebello, Cockcroft, Satoh, Chandrah, Thompson, Mintzer, Metheny, Buckland, Connor The Time Is Now, Rob Buckland, Peter Lawson & Simone Rebello Saxophone, Piano & Percussion, Equivox Records, Mar 2006
- Various 6 CDs with Apollo Saxophone Quartet, Apollo Saxophone Quartet, Saxophone Quartet, Decca/ASQ/Celestial Harmonies, 1992-present
- Fitkin, Thompson, Rebello, Garland, Buckland Duality, Rob Buckland, Peter Lawson Saxophones and piano/Saxophone and backing track, Sospiro Noir, Manchester, Jul 2014
- Wijerante, Ball, Wheeler, Parker, Mintzer, Tippett Perspectives, ASQ, Apollo Saxophone Quartet & Bob Mintzer Saxophone Quartet (plus solo sax on one track), ASQ Records, Manchester, Jan-Jun 2014
Authored Books
Compositions
Recordings
Professional Activity
Jury for Royal Over-Seas League Competition, 2016, 2014, 2009 etc.
International Jury for World Saxophone Congress Quartet Competition 2015, Strasbourg
Masterclasses in Holland (Utrecht) Apr 2015, South Africa (Pretoria, Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town), Spring 2014, Portugal Spring 2016, RCM, RCS, GSMD, RWCMD, Birmingham University, Perth (Aus) Conservatoire, 2015 and 2016
Director of Manchester Saxophone Summer School (2009 to present), Harrogate Saxophone Summer School (2006 to present) and RNCM Saxophone Day (2000 to present)
Articles in CASS Magazine (Various)
Saxophone tutor NYWO, NYWE, NYWOW
NCBF Panel 2016
Member of Apollo Saxophone Quartet (1985-present)
Member of Equivox Trio (2005-present)
Duo with Peter Lawson (1989-present)
Michael Nyman Band (1997 to present)
Saxophonist with BBC Phil (1990 to present), Halle (2005 – present), RLPO (2006-present), Orchstra of opera North (2007- present), SaxAssault (2006 to present)
