Interview with Doug O’ Connor
On January 29, 2025, Doug O’Connor, assistant saxophone professor at the Peabody Institute, hosted a masterclass conducted by Nicolas Arsenijevic, a world-renowned saxophonist. Good Beats sponsored this event as part of our effort to promote music education. The following interview was conducted with Prof. O’Connor following the masterclass.
A masterclass is a one-on-one lesson in front of an audience, the purpose of which is to share the ideas, perspectives, and strategies of the teaching artist through the case study of a student’s performance.
What is a masterclass?Masterclasses enable the participating student to hear an alternate perspective from a new listener, the audience to absorb the lessons for their own purposes, and both the student and audience to understand the thinking and priorities of the teaching artist, drawing conclusions about how these might benefit their performance.
What is the benefit of a masterclass?All students can benefit from performing in or attending a masterclass. Regardless of the level of the student, the strategic priorities of the teaching artist are on display for the benefit of all.
What kind of students should take a masterclass?On January 29, 2025, we welcomed esteemed saxophonist Nicolas Arsenijevic to the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where our class and the public were able to get to know his artistry through a masterclass as well as a recital performance with pianist Lise Charrin. Mr. Arsenijevic is the newly appointed professor of saxophone at the world’s most important school for concert saxophone, the Paris Conservatory. He is an outstanding performer, musician, artistic thinker, and teacher, and his playing, sound concepts, and perspectives on different pieces of music made an indelible imprint on our studio.
Can you tell me about the teacher for this masterclass?During the masterclass, Mr. Arsenijevic worked with students performing well-known works by Henri Tomasi (a concerto), Luciano Berio (a contemporary solo piece), and Paul Bonneau (a solo caprice in the style of a virtuosic violin piece). He has an easy physical approach to the instrument that translated to a very natural, colorful sound and fluid technique; this made an impression on everyone. He discussed the nuances of how contemporary techniques respond on the Berio (alternate fingerings and finding a natural approach to the extended techniques), showing that the saxophone presents its own character and personality in each of these that should be embraced instead of controlled. In the Bonneau, he beautifully separated ornamentation from structure, always keeping the sense of contrapuntal waltz and capricious lightness inherent to the piece. In the Tomasi, he was able to show how timbre and dynamic tell the story. In each segment, he showed unique practicing techniques that could help students execute more advanced interpretations.
Can you give me a few examples of what students might have gotten from the class?