Jeff Heisler

MOUNT PLEASANT - Jeff Heisler has earned a number of music awards during his four years as a student at Central Michigan University.Now he can add an international award to that list.

The CMU senior from Warren was recently named Outstanding Classical Soloist in Downbeat magazine's international 25th Annual Student Music Awards.

Professional musicians chose Heisler based on a recording he submitted.

"Jeff is one of the hardest working students I've ever met - he has incredible amounts of talent and boundless energy," said Heisler's teacher, John Nichol.
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I've never had a saxophone player with as much drive to play and who is as serious about music as Jeff is.

"He's totally dedicated and responsible and wonderfully gifted," he said."It should be noted that Adrienne Wiley and Rebecca Wilt, who both teach at CMU, have spent a great deal of time assisting this young man with his musical development.Jeff should go far in this world."

Heisler also won the Patricia Nixon Scholarship Competition for woodwind students, the Jack Saunders Jazz Award and a concerto competition in which the winner is invited to perform with the CMU Symphony Orchestra.He chose to play Saxophone Concerto, written in 1993 by Michael Torke.

He also is a member of the Central WAILS Saxophone Orchestra and the Quantum Saxophone Quartet.

Heisler, who graduated from Fitzgerald High School, is studying music education and saxophone performance.He is the son of Tim and Julie Heisler of Warren.

- jj -