Buffet Crampon and Julius Keilwerth saxophones recently announced Howard Dietz of Denton, Texas as the winner of the 2016 Saxophone Idol competition, held on December 14, 2016 at Andy’s Jazz Club in Chicago, Illinois.
Dietz, along with finalists Luke Norris of Bethpage, New York, and Chris Oatts of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were selected to perform live at the finals event from a pool of over 50 entries from 12 different countries. The three finalists performed to a sold-out house and were evaluated by an all-star panel of music industry judges, including headliner and Keilwerth Saxophone Artist Brad Leali (University of North Texas, Lyle Lovett Band), Keilwerth Saxophone Artist Mike Smith (Frank Sinatra Jr. Orchestra, Roosevelt University), Keilwerth Saxophone Artist Don Zentz (Jacksonville, Florida), Buffet Crampon USA President & CEO François Kloc, and Downbeat contributing editor Ed Enright.
As winner of the 2016 Saxophone Idol contest, Dietz was presented with a Julius Keilwerth MKX Saxophone from Julius Keilwerth Product Manager Al Maniscalco. Additional prizes included a year supply of D’Addario Reeds and a two year subscription to Downbeat magazine, courtesy of contributing sponsors D’Addario and Downbeat.
Saxophone Idol sponsored by Buffet Crampon and Julius Keilwerth is an international competition that is open to all saxophone players age 18 and over. Details on the 2017 Saxophone Idol competition will be announced in the spring. For more information on Saxophone Idol, please visit www.saxidol.com
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