Biography

The international music magazine "Das Orchester" wrote: "Critics claim that hearing saxophonist Harry White is like hearing the instrument with new, different ears... White's variety in articulation, his silky soft tone and his precision technique make his playing inimitable. During the performance he is like a mystic sunk in deep contemplation."

Harry White grew up in Mississippi and received his first instruction there from Warren and Marti Lutz. He studied with Lawrence Gwozdz at the University of Southern Mississippi and with the pioneer of classical saxophone Sigurd Raschèr in upstate New York.

Harry White was a member of the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet between 1990-2001 and regards his time in the quartet as one of his most influential musical experiences. As a member of this ensemble he performed in many of the important halls of Europe and the USA: Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center New York, Kennedy Center Washington D.C., Philharmonic Hall Berlin, Royal Festival Hall London, Opera Bastille Paris, etc.

Since July 2001 he has been active as a saxophone soloist and free-lance musician. Critics consistently praise White for the unique, gentle tone quality he produces on his historical saxophone and for his dynamic interpretations of old and new works. He is fascinated with the lyrical possibilities of the saxophone and recently recorded songs of Edvard Grieg (arr. for saxophone and piano) with the composer, pianist and "Lied" expert Edward Rushton.

He concertizes regularly with the organist Jakoba Marten-Büsing (Freiburg i. Br.) and with the pianists Todd Sisley (New York) and Edward Rushton (Zurich). He also performs with the Swiss singer La Lupa (www.la-lupa.ch).

He is a member of the newly founded Raschèr Saxophone Orchestra, a professional saxophone orchestra with 12 musicians conducted by Bruce Weinberger, tenor saxophonist in the Raschèr Quartet.

As a soloist he has appeared with many orchestras: Radio Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart, Bochumer Symphoniker, Beethovenhalle Orchestra Bonn, the Philharmonic Orchestras in Freiburg and Heidelberg, etc. He performs regularly as an orchestral saxophonist with the National Orchestra Mannheim. Together with the Raschèr Quartet he performed with Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic at the New Year's Eve concert 2002.