BROOKINGS – The South Dakota State University Department of Music has been selected to host the biennial conference for Region 3 of the North American Saxophone Alliance this week.

Performers from Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wisconsin will converge on the Performing Arts Center and the McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center for performances, master classes, lectures and competitions.

“I am really excited that we have so many outstanding saxophone artists coming to Brookings for the conference,” said SDSU saxophone instructor Carl Spaeth, who serves as the conference organizer and has been preparing for a full year for the event. “The 7:30 p.m. performances, which are free and open to the public, are going to be real treats. We would be delighted to have an excellent turnout from Brookings for these events.”

Friday evening’s concert includes jazz performances by Paul Haar from the University of Nebraska, Jonathan Campbell from the University of Minnesota-Morris, and Brian Hanegan from Augustana University, among others. SDSU Jazz Ensemble One will provide accompaniments to their performances.

The h2 quartet will perform Saturday. This award-winning group, organized in 2002, takes advantage of the expressive capacities of their instruments by programming traditional, avant-garde and jazz-influenced works in surprising ways. They have been featured on NPR and PBS broadcasts, including the nationally syndicated show, “Backstage Pass.”

For more information or a detailed schedule, visit www.sdstate.edu/music or contact the SDSU music department at 688-5187.