Following their successful first performance, new chamber ensemble Beta Test will be performing alongside the Garden State Saxophone Quartet on June 17^th at Dalet Gallery in Old City. Billed "The Duel at Dalet" the program includes of a set of duets and two works for the groups playing together. Featured on the program will be a premiere of a new work by Douglas Laustsen entitled Bad Romance Fantasy, which is, depending on your perspective, a celebration or systematic destruction of the hit song by Lady Gaga and performed by the GSSQ. Beta Test will also be presenting Grab It! by Jacob TV, which is a 'duet' for saxophone and boom box that will be performed by Ellis Jasenovic.

"While some people may not think much of the music in video games, often there is a high level of creativity evident, and when you approach the task of transferring the electronic sounds to live performance, a lot of musicianship is required to play well," says tubist Steve Lakawicz. "It is really exciting to bring the two groups I regularly perform with together to create some exciting music. It is not often that audiences have an opportunity to hear some of the wonderful pieces presented in this concert, including the boisterous tape and saxophone piece by Jacob TV, which should be a highlight for listeners" said saxophonist Ellis Jasenovic. Admission to the event is a ten dollar donation.

PROGRAM*:

Beta Test

Grab It! by Jacob TV

No Origination (2010) by Nat Evans

Movements from Chicago Profiles for Trombone and Clarinetby Randall Snyder Duet Miniatures by Douglas Laustsen

Arrangements from the video games Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the Mega Manseries, Tales From the Abyss, and Final Fantasy III arranged by Steve Lakawicz, Douglas Laustsen, and Ellis Jasenovic

Garden State Saxophone Quartet

Playing With Matches by Fred Cohen Saxophone Quartet; 2nd movement, Canzona Variations by Alexander Glasunov Bad Romance Fantasy by Douglas Laustsen Carry On My Wayward Son by Kerry Livgren, arranged by Robert Harvey Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by J.S. Bach, arranged by Roger Greenberg.

Combined

Liberi Fatali from Final Fantasy VIII arranged by Ellis Jasenovic

Canzon Primi Toni by Giovanni Gabrieli arranged by Douglas Laustsen

*subject to change About Beta Test: Newly formed by composer/arranger/performers Douglas Laustsen, Steve Lakawicz, and Ellis Jasenovic, Beta Test explores new works, classical music, and arrangements of the music from a variety of ÔgeekyÕ sources such as video games, television, and film. The group is currently planning a concert season beginning in Fall 2011. The group consists of the founders and clarinetist Justin Bulava.

About the Garden State Saxophone Quartet: In the year 2003, while pursuing their undergraduate degrees at Montclair State University in Upper Montclair, NJ, four classical saxophone students began performing together regularly. The group consists of Miguel Bolivar on soprano saxophone, Robert Harvey on alto saxophone, Ellis Jasenovic, on tenor saxophone and Robert Quinn on baritone saxophone. The four members also perform regularly as free-lance musicians and are private teachers in their own studios, as well as some in New Jersey public schools. GSSQ has a wide variety of classical, pop, jazz, rock and holiday collections and will perform at any and all types of events.

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Contact: Douglas Laustsen Beta Test 908-672-2563 douglas.laustsen@gmail.com