Music alum wins gold medal in international competition

Saxophonist and UNC Charlotte alumnus Benjamin Still has won a gold medal in the 2015 Fischoff Competition as a member of the Mirasol Quartet.

Founded in 1973, the Fischoff Competition is the largest chamber music competition in the world. Each year, an average of 125 ensembles, representing 22 nationalities, enter the competition in either the wind or string categories of three to six performers. Fischoff is the only national chamber music competition with both senior divisions (ages 18-35) and a junior division (age 18 and younger).

The Mirasol Quartet, one of 49 ensembles to enter this year’s Fischoff Competition, is a saxophone quartet from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, where Still is a student pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts. The quartet received the Gold Medal in the Senior Wind Division, which included a cash award of $3,500.

Still graduated from UNC Charlotte in 2013 with a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance. An inaugural member of the College of Arts + Architecture Honors Program, he graduated summa cum laude with honors. He also was a national finalist in the 2015 Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition and a finalist in the 2015 Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition.