Quartz Saxophone Quartet brings together four of the UK’s top professional saxophonists. They started playing together in 1994 as students at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and have performed extensively throughout the UK and Ireland. They have commissioned and recorded new pieces by composers such as Gary Carpenter, Alex Levine and John Buckley. Their first album was released to critical acclaim on Black Box Music.

​

This evening’s concert launches the recording Sweet Dusk, released by Deux-Elles Classical Recordings.

All of Mick Foster’s pieces played in the concert are available at Saxtet Publications.

​

​

Mick Foster

​

Mick is a saxophonist and composer who is especially known as a soloist on the baritone saxophone. Originally from Harrogate, he studied at Guildhall School and has since worked extensively in the fields of jazz, commercial and classical music.

Mick has appeared with many ensembles which include the big bands of John Dankworth,

Stan Sulzmann and Mike Garrick; Alan Barnes +11, The Humphrey Lyttelton Band, Ginger Baker’s Air Force, Laura Jurd’s Human Spirit, The London Philharmonic Orchestra and English National Opera. Mick has recorded four albums under his own name and appears on many albums and film & TV soundtracks including Don’t Look Up and Downton Abbey.

As a composer Mick has written for many types of ensemble including Onyx Brass and the London Jazz Orchestra. His music has been recorded and played around the world, broadcast on BBC radio and included on exams syllabuses.

Mick is known as an educator and teaches at Guildhall School and at Jazz School UK.

Paul Stevens

​

Paul studied with John Harle at Guildhall School. He has had a successful and varied career as a saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist and has performed around the world in venues including Carnegie Hall, The Lincoln Centre, Orchard Hall (Tokyo), Theatre des Champs, Esplanade (Singapore), the Royal Albert Hall, Barbican and the Festival Hall.

He has played and recorded with many orchestras and ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia, London Philharmonic Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia, London Sinfonietta, Britten Sinfonia, BBC Concert Orchestra and London Saxophonic. Artists with whom Paul has worked include Elton John, Katie Melia and Damon Albarn. He has recorded the soundtracks for many film scores including the Oscar nominated Mr. Turner for which he was a featured player; Monuments Men, Fantasia 2000 and Goya’s Ghosts.

Paul has held chairs on many West End Shows including Aladdin, Kinky Boots, High Society, Sleepless, Urinetown, A Chorus Line, Shrek, Sister Act, Spamalot, Billy Elliot, Jerry Springer the Opera, My One and Only, Merrily We Roll Along, Maddie and Candide.

Paul has held teaching positions at Reeds School and the Guildhall School Junior Department. He currently teaches saxophone, clarinet and flute at Guildhall School.

​

Christian Forshaw

​

Christian’s distinctive sound as saxophonist & composer has drawn a global audience. His playing and writing have been featured by Tenebrae on When Sleep Comes, Voces8 on Lux and Eventide, and he was recently commissioned by the BBC Singers to compose and arrange 3 new works for a performance in Cadogan Hall, London in April 2024. To date he has recorded 6 solo albums, most featuring his own writing and arranging. 

His music is heavily influenced by the choral landscape he grew up with, alongside colours from minimalism and jazz.

In 2023 his music was included by Ridley Scott in the 20th Century Fox movie The Last Duel featuring Matt Damon. He has worked with artists as diverse as Brian Eno, Michael Nyman, Damon Albarn, Chamber Orchestra of Europe and Hugh Jackman.

Since 2002 Christian has been Professor of Saxophone at Guildhall School.

​

Brad Grant

​

Brad Grant studied saxophone at Guildhall School with John Harle. His performing career has taken him all over Europe and across the world playing at some of the world’s prominent venues.

He is actively working as a freelance musician in fields as diverse as orchestral, dance bands, chamber groups and film sessions. He regularly plays with many of the country’s leading orchestras and chamber groups. Most of Brad’s performing time is occupied in theatre in London’s West End, trebling on all saxes, clarinets and flutes. After starting out on several UK and European touring productions he has since been the chair holder on many West End shows and deputised on countless others. He currently plays alto sax, clarinet, flute and piccolo on The Book of Mormon, a chair he has held since 2016.

Brad has played with a variety of orchestras and ensembles including the Philharmonia, London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia, Britten Sinfonia, English National Opera, Royal Opera House, Icebreaker, London Saxophonic, the Michael Nyman Band and the Graham Fitkin Band. He has also been recorded on a number of film soundtracks.​