Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University will host international instrumentalist Amir Gwirtzman in a master class to be held Friday, April 30, at 12 noon in the band room of Ouachita’s Mabee Fine Arts Center.

Gwirtzman “is an international artist who combines jazz with folk instruments of Israel,” said Craig Hamilton, OBU’s Lena Goodwin Trimble Professor of Music and Director of Bands.

Gwirtzman, one of Israel’s most renowned saxophone players, has played the recorder since age 7, the clarinet since age 9 and the saxophone since age 16. Today, he is an accomplished musician in more than 20 different reed instruments.

The master class will give participants the opportunity to enjoy the sounds and culture of Israel as well as learn about music around the world. Gwirtzman is an experienced speaker who has performed concerts and taught in numerous cities across the United States both independently and as a part of ESTA, the world-renowned band he helped found.

Hamilton explained that this master class will help participants “broaden our knowledge of music, other cultures and the world.”

Gwirtzman, while performing with ESTA, has played at the White House in honor of Israel’s 50^th Anniversary; to a sold-out House of Blues show in Los Angeles; and the World Music Festival in Italy among many other notable venues. He is sponsored by the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL) and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.

The master class is free of charge and open to the public. To find out more about Gwirtzman or to hear his music, visit www.estamusic.com. For more information, contact Craig Hamilton at [email protected] or (870) 245-5137.

By Rebecca Stone