Noteworthy Scholars Program

NOTEWORTHY SCHOLARS and the Boston Saxophone Quartet
Boston First Night 2027

Noteworthy Scholars encourages high school students to compose an original piece or arrange existing music for the Boston Saxophone Quartet.  Students should have a basic knowledge of music theory as taught by their high school band director or other teacher. Student projects may be submitted in any musical style such as: Classical, Swing, Jazz, Latin, Rock, etc., with a maximum length of 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Students should notate their piece using a computer application such as MuseScore, Finale, Dorico, Sibelius, NoteFlight, etc.. AI tools must not be used for this project. Students should submit PDF files of the score and four parts, one each properly transposed for soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone.  The initial submission deadline is December 4, 2026, with the possibility to submit edits and corrections up until December 18.  The BSQ will evaluate the scores and examine the ranges of the instruments, articulations, phrasing, style, tempo, rehearsal marks, etc.  Download this file for more guidelines and recommendations. All submissions should be emailed to pcokkinias@comcast.net.

 High School Music Directors, students, and parents, please download this important information about submissions and deadlines.   

Selected student works will be performed by the BSQ as part of their concert for First Night 2027. This program is provided free of charge to the students. The concert will be at Boston Public Library, early afternoon; exact time TBD.

The Boston Saxophone Quartet has enjoyed the amazing opportunity to observe the talent of HS students over 30 years of teaching and performing music. We have found that students benefit from the chance to write a musical composition for us: teachers and musicians, as the BSQ is committed to students' musical growth. Our perseverance for quality, knowledge, and individual personal growth greatly strengthens students' critical development and gives them the tools and added encouragement to foster their creativity. We strive to inspire students to reach for higher goals in their pursuit of excellence as composers and performers. A community is enriched by the number and quality of its musicians, both young and old, professional and amateur.

The Boston Saxophone Quartet is a professional Ensemble which has been performing and teaching together for the past 30 years. Our programs have been presented for Boston First Night for the past 15 years and have been very successful with high school students from Boston Latin School, Community Music School of Boston, Boston Arts Academy, Belmont, etc.

Our members have performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Boston Ballet, Boston Opera House, Colonial and Wang Theaters, American Repertory Theatre, Boston Lyric Stage, North Shore Music Theatre. In the MA public schools, members have taught in: Arlington, Auburn, Boston, Lowell, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham, Waltham.

Colleges: Berklee College, MIT, Tufts, Boston Conservatory, Lowell, Westfield State.