The NDSU Gold Star Saxophone Quartet recently placed first in the North Dakota round of the Music Teacher’s National Association Collegiate Chamber Music Competition. Matthew Patnode directs the ensemble, which includes:

• Michael Bartunek, a senior majoring in music education from Grafton, N.D.
• Jon Ellwein, a senior double majoring in music and agriculture from Hazen, N.D.
• Christopher Schuster, a senior majoring in music education from Fargo
• Antoine Poitras, a senior majoring in music education from Fargo

The Gold Star Saxophone Quartet will compete in the Midwest Central Division scheduled for January 2012 at the University of Colorado-Boulder. If they place first in this competition, they will proceed to the national finals, which will be held in New York City in March 2012. In 2003 and 2006, two NDSU saxophone quartets proceeded to the national round of competition. The quartet placed third in 2006.

Additionally, Carolyn Braus, a junior majoring in instrumental performance from Bismarck, N.D., saxophone, placed first in the North Dakota round of the Music Teacher’s National Association Young Artist Woodwind Competition. The solo competition is for woodwind musicians between the ages of 19 and 26. Braus, who studies with Patnode, will compete at the regional level in January 2012 at the University of Colorado-Boulder.