New Day Saxophone Quartet
About Us:
The New Day Saxophone Quartet is a ground-breaking ensemble dedicated to bringing their audience an exciting and unique experience. Their imaginative and versatile programs give the audience a blend of music ranging from traditional chamber pieces to the rich sound of jazz and popular music. The New Day Saxophone Quartet is available for weddings, parties, festivals, school programs, clinics, and concerts. Program lengths and content can be tailored to the needs of any group.
The group evolved from a university quartet manned by Erika Donaghy and John Yeater. Bill Manfredi joined on baritone saxophone in 2003 to form the Island Saxophone Quartet. The Island Saxophone Quartet played many venues from weddings, charity events, and school educational clinics to community concerts and private parties. After a 2 year hiatus in 2007-2008, Tim Hill, a recent graduate of West Virginia University, joined on tenor saxophone in the spring of 2009.
MEMBERS:
Erika Donaghy - Soprano and Alto Saxophone
Erika Donaghy is a manager at C. A. House Music, the largest full service music store in the Tri-State Valley. She coordinates many of the company’s financial, customer service, and marketing activities. She created the web-commerce site for the company by independently writing the coding and graphic design for www.cahousemusic.com and also the website for the New Day Saxophone Quartet. She also designs the print and web marketing campaigns for both organizations. Donaghy is a Yamaha Certified Sales Professional and has completed the Yamaha Sales Advantage Training in Indianapolis, Illinois. In addition to working on the business side of music she is an active performer in the local music industry.
Along with performing with her saxophone quartet for public, private, and charity events she has been featured on several CDs from local artists. She is also a member of the National Association of Young Musical Merchants.
As an Ohio native, Donaghy attended West Liberty University specializing in Music and Business. She enjoyed the area and has officially been a Wheeling resident for over six years. She is also serving on the City of Wheeling Arts and Culture Commission and looks forward to bringing even more enjoyment of the arts to her local community and audiences.
John Yeater - Alto Saxophone
John Yeater was born in Meridian, Mississippi and lived in Pennsylvania and Maryland before settling in West Virginia. He attended West Liberty University (formally West Liberty State College), where he earned degrees in chemistry and music education.
John currently plays alto saxophone in the quartet, although he has performed on soprano through bass saxophones. He also played alto saxophone in the Island Saxophone Quartet. He has studied with Barbara Levoch, Janet Bemiss, Dennis Fisher, Curtis Johnson, Dr. Nels Leonard, and Carina Raschér
Tim Hill - Tenor Saxophone
Tim Hill received his bachelor degree in music education from West Virginia University in fall of 2008 where he graduated magna cum laude. His instructors have included Curtis Johnson and Dr. David Wright. As a teacher, Tim Hill currently teaches saxophone privately at Fawley Music in Morgantown, WV, and is in demand for clinics on jazz music and saxophone performance. He is also the jazz ensemble director at Waynesburg Central High School. Mr. Hill has been a member of the International Association of Jazz Education and the Local 580 Musicians Union. During the fall, Mr. Hill arranges music for high school and university marching bands. As a performer, Mr. Hill freelances in the tri state area and is a regular with the West Virginia Public Theater Company.
He has performed in master classes and clinics for saxophone artists such as, Don Braden, James Bunte, Steve Wilson, and Dr. Lawrence Wyman. In the summer of 2006, Mr. Hill traveled to Krakow, Poland to teach at the International Summer Jazz Academy, and performed on Polish Jazz radio. Recently, Mr. Hill was the guest conductor for Waynesburg University’s High School Honor Jazz Festival, where he directed a big band compiled by students from Greene and Fayette County in Pennsylvania.
Bill Manfredi - Baritone Saxophone
Bill Manfredi attained his B.S. from Duquesne University. He current and past performance groups include the Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra, Westmoreland Symphony, Wheeling Symphony, Sonny Sky's Big Band, Augsburg German Band, and the Island Saxophone Quartet. You can also find Bill playing freelance all around the Ohio Valley.
He teaches private lessons from his home and C. A. House Music in St. Clairsville. He also is the Instrumental Music teacher at Central Christian Academy in Houston, Pennsylvania.
Wheeling Arts and Cultural Commission
