University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Fuego Quartet
Nicki Roman is the most recent first prize winner of the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Solo Competition. She has been a prize winner at the Music Teacher’s National Association Young Artist Solo Competition, William C. Byrd International Competition, and is the first saxophonist to be the recipient of the International Kate Neal Kinley Memorial Fellowship. Her research on the music of Bruno Mantovani has been presented at national and international conferences, including the most recent World Saxophone Congress in Zagreb, Croatia.
Having performed across North America, Europe and Asia, Nicki has shared solo and chamber music performances at numerous venues throughout the globe. She has presented solo performances at Krannert Center for Performing Arts, Rio All-Suite Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas, NV, Brevard Summer Music Festival, China National Centre for the Performing Arts, Université Européenne de Saxophone, Eastman School of Music and the University of Illinois. In addition, she has presented recitals and masterclasses for students at the University of North Florida, University of South Florida, Nazareth College, Mansfield University, Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, Brevard Summer Music Festival, and the Eastman Community Music School. She has been a concerto soloist with orchestras such as the Eastman Symphony Orchestra, Eastman Wind Ensemble, Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and the University of North Florida Orchestra.
Nicki is a member of the Fuego Quartet, an award-winning chamber group devoted to the performance of both standard and contemporary works written for the saxophone. Most recently, they were awarded the Gold Medal in the 44th annual Fischoff Competition and recorded their first studio album, set to be released with PARMA Recordings in 2019. Other achievements have included first prize in the 2017 Plowman Chamber Music Competition, second prize in the 2017 MTNA Young Artist Chamber Competition, first prize in the 198th Army Band College Chamber Competition, winners of the Eastman Honors Chamber Competition and are the recipients of the Eastman School of Music’s John Celentano Award for Excellence in Chamber Music. They have been featured artists at the Strong National Museum of Play, The George Eastman Museum, Dorris Carlson Reading Garden, The Washington Square Concert Series and [Col][lab]. In 2015, Nicki was a soloist with the Alaric Quartet in Michael Colgrass’ Urban Requiem at the College Band Director’s National Association Conference in Nashville, TN. A strong advocate for new music, Nicki has collaborated with the Møthertung Ensemble, [Switch~ Ensemble], Ossia New Music and the Illinois Modern Ensemble.
Along with being a highly active solo and chamber musician, Nicki’s dedication to music education is at the forefront of her musical career. Nicki has held the coveted position of saxophone teaching assistant at the Eastman School of Music and the University of Illinois, where she taught saxophone methods courses, coached chamber music and taught applied saxophone. She has also served on the faculty at the Eastman Summer Saxophone Institute (ESSI), the Illinois Summer Youth Music Camps (ISYM) and the Young Saxophonist’s Institute (YSI). Her students have gone on to win prestigious competitions and awards such as the the Music Teacher’s National Association Chamber Competition, 198th Army Band Chamber Competition, Thomas J. Smith Scholarship Competition and the John Phillip Sousa Award. During past summers, she has served on staff at the Interlochen Arts Camp and the Brevard Music Center. She previously taught applied saxophone at the Eastman Community Music School, where she maintained an active private studio based in Rochester, NY.
Dr. Roman is the Visiting Assistant Professor of Saxophone at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. At UWM, she teaches applied saxophone, coaches chamber music, and is the director of the UWM Jazz Ensemble. She recently earned her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at the Eastman School of Music. At Eastman, she received a certificate in college music teaching and a minor in instrumental pedagogy. In addition, she is a recipient of the prestigious Eastman Performer’s Certificate and is the former Assistant Director of the Eastman Saxophone Project (ESP). She holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of North Florida. Her former teachers have included Chien-Kwan Lin, Debra Richtmeyer, Doug O'Connor, Vincent David, Joe Lulloff and Bunky Green.
romann@uwm.edu