Amamus is a baritone saxophone quartet, composed in equal parts of amateurs and professionals. We call ourselves Amamus, Latin for "We love" to indicate the foundation of our fondness for saxophones and our choice of a universal and classic language

We are working with composer and baritone saxophonist Mark Engebretson on a new work and are seeking a commission from the American Composers Forum. The performance will combine parts for two professional and two amateur saxophonists and incorporate four baritone saxophones. The performers will include Richard Dirlam, me and two other performers from the Twin City area.

Richard Dirlam is instructor of saxophone and chamber music at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota. He earned First Prizes and Medals of Honour in Saxophone Performance and Chamber Music from the Conservatoire National de Musique de Bordeaux, France, while in the studio of Jean-Marie Londeix. Dirlam has performed in Europe, Japan and North America as a recitalist, soloist, and member of chamber ensembles and orchestras. He has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra and the contemporary music ensemble Zeitgeist. Recordings include "Pure Saxophone" and "Saxophone Ascendant".

Marilyn B. Knudsen: My background is as an adult amateur, a neglected population of musicians in our time, although not in the eras of Handel and Beethoven who often wrote for exactly such people who could pay them. The only common venue in the United States for adult amateur saxophones is community bands, often directed toward "swing" and jazz. While, I do participate in that venue, the "amo" part is serious chamber music. I am a student of Richard Dirlam, performed for Mark Engebretson, and participated in a weeklong workshop with Eugene Rousseau. A saxophone quartet composed of 2 lawyers, a stockbroker, and a gas utility linewoman meets weekly to rehearse original pieces and transcriptions for saxophone ensembles. My home is the historical Benjamin Ogden House and we have commenced an annual "Sax Salon" to which we invite composers, performers, and other aficionados. Minnesota premieres and at least one world premiere have occurred in the salon.

Jeff Fulton graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in Music Education. While there, he studied saxophone with Richard Dirlam and conducting with Craig Kirchhoff. In 1996, Jeff was a member of the pit band for The Harlem Nutcracker featuring Duke Ellington and David Berger's arrangemetns of the Tchaikovsky classic with the Harlem Dance Company. He was a member of the Saxophone Quartet featured on Michael Colgrass' Urban Requiem recorded by the University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble on the "Blue Dawn into White Heat" CD. He is currently teaching instrumental music for the Saint Paul Public Schools and is a member of the North Suburban Concert Band.

James Prindiville is a junior at St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota. His majors are performance and music education. Currently he is studying with Richard Dirlam, having previously studied with Rita Knudsel. He is director of the Thursday Student Performance Series at the College of St. Benendict and St. John's University.