Zephyr Saxophone Quartet is Headed to Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition
- Clovis North Band
- Mar 18
- 3 min read
The Zephyr Saxophone Quartet (Alex Fisher, Hunter Hatfield, Luke Noordmans, and Davin Whitley) has advanced to the final rounds of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the largest and most prestigious chamber music competition in the world.
These musicians have spent months of dedicated rehearsal and rigorous refining of their music. The quartet is coached by Clovis North alum Jordan DeLaTorre and has worked with esteemed college professors including Dr Kenneth Tse (University of Iowa) and Dr Benjamin Boone (Fresno State). The group is honored to be representing local composers by including a piece by Dr Boone in their competition repertoire. After submitting an audition in February, they have been selected as one of the top chamber groups in the nation to advance.
This incredible achievement means they will travel to South Bend, Indiana this May to represent Clovis North and compete against the finest high school chamber groups in the country. You can follow their journey to Indiana on Instagram: @zephyrsaxquartet
"If you told me that we would be competing as one of the top chamber groups in the nation back when we formed Zephyr back in the summer of 2023, I would have said there's no way. When I think about when we first played music together, it was a little rough. Both Davin and I were starting new instruments, and we all had very little experience when it came to striving for perfection and excellency. But we all had that drive, that desire to be the best. I could tell that we could be great but I never expected that we would go this far.
This acceptance is a testament to our hard work over the past year and a half. Our long rehearsals and hours of practice. Annoying the band with our seemingly daily lunch rehearsals in the band room last year. It has all come to fruition, and I could not be more proud of all that we've done.
Of course a huge part of our growth is attributed to Jordan, our amazing mentor. He has pushed and guided us through our entire journey and we are extremely thankful for him. Another attribute to our success is a basic one, but I think it's the most important: we're just four best friends playing saxophone together. I love spending time and making music with these guys and I can't wait to see where we go from here.
I can't wait to represent the band on a national level in Indiana! Go Broncos!"
ALEX FISHER
"First and foremost I would like to give glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To me, this means we finally get to put our names out there and get the opportunities we are working for. I truly am excited for this challenge we have worked for together. Without family and friends you go no where, lucky I have 3 of them right here in my quartet. The amount of time and effort it has taken us to prepare for this is finally paying off.
This also means that I get to put my gifts to good use. I truly do believe that I was put on this Earth to musically change the world, whether that be preforming or creating it. After being born into a family of musicians, especially my father who also play saxophone, I take great pride into my playing, and getting to preform at the Fischoff competition is my first step into becoming something great. Not only changing music, but also people."
DAVIN WHITLEY
"It is truly an honor getting to compete in this year's Fischoff competition. It is a testament to the dedication each of us have put into each of these pieces, and music as a whole. We are so excited to share our work with everyone!"
HUNTER HATFIELD
"This means for me that all of the hard work and all of the hours that the rest of the quartet and I have put in have finally paid off. Saxophone quartet is my favorite ensemble to be in and being able to go compete on the national level in something that I love is very special. This application and acceptance into this competition has been in the works for around 3 years when I joined my first sax quartet here at Clovis North.
The quartet and I have gradually been making progress towards being good enough to go to this competition, and we've finally made it. I am extremely excited, and extremely proud of all the work myself, and the rest of the quartet has put in."
LUKE NOORDMANS
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