Manor House Concert Series: Adam Pelandini

Bainbridge Island native Adam Pelandini discovered his love for music at a young age as he watched his father and older sister practice the piano. After teaching himself some of the tunes he was hearing, it was apparent he should begin his own set of piano lessons. Later he watched his older brother play drum set with his local high school jazz band and was drawn in especially by the saxophone section. With the love and support of his musical family he began a love affair with the instrument and its capabilities.

After graduating from Bainbridge High School in 2001, Adam pursued further studies at Central Washington University (CWU) where he studied closely with saxophone and clarinet professor Joseph Brooks. Always focusing on nuance of sound and musicality, he and Brooks connected well and accomplished much. After several performances with CWU’s top ensembles, numerous solo and chamber recitals and a bachelor’s degree, he moved on to the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA and joined Professor Kenneth Radnofsky’s saxophone studio. Over five years, he completed his Master of Music degree in saxophone performance from NEC with Academic Honors, earned his Doctor of Musical Arts from Boston University College of Fine Arts and was invited to perform with the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra in June 2011.

Due to Tanglewood’s close connection with the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) Adam was first discovered by the musicians of the symphony. It was three years later when he was invited to perform with the elite ensemble in concert at Boston Symphony Hall and later at Tanglewood that very Summer. Over the next several years, he enjoyed regular collaborations with the BSO performing numerous works with a multitude of conductors including Andris Nelsons, Michael Tilson Thomas, Leonidas Kavakos, Keith Lockhart, Charles Dutoit, Stéphane Denève and Robert Spano (to name a few). Among these were H.K. Gruber’s “Trumpet Concerto” with soloist Håkan Hardenberger at Carnegie Hall in New York City in November 2018, and the Leonard Bernstein Centennial at Tanglewood in August 2018 which was featured on the television program “Great Performances” and aired on PBS in December of that year.

Based in the Pacific Northwest, Adam is and active educator, clinician and adjudicator. Formerly, he served as lecturer in the music department at his alma mater, CWU. There he built a large and competitive saxophone studio, taught first-year music theory, single-reed methods and music appreciation. He appeared as faculty soloist with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble conducted by his former teacher, colleague and friend, Professor Larry Gookin in the conductor’s retirement concert performing David Maslanka’s “Saxophone Concerto” with the composer in attendance. Other notable performances include Gunther Schuller’s “Tribute to Rudy Wiedoeft” with the Seattle Wind Symphony, also conducted by Larry Gookin and Alexander Glazunov’s “Concerto in E-flat for Alto Saxophone and String Orchestra” with the Mid-Columbia Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nicholas L. Wallin.

After seven years at CWU, Adam decided to leave higher education and return to Bainbridge Island. There he continues to teach, perform and pursue his love affair with music.