Mixed Media aims to challenge and delight audiences with new interpretations of contemporary saxophone quartet music with an emphasis on an authentic and engaging relationship between the performer, audience, and composer.
The quartet plays regularly in the Athens, GA area, and continues to push the boundaries of the saxophone quartet genre through collaboration and the commissioning of new works. Mixed Media features Michael Chapa on soprano saxophone, Julien Berger on alto saxophone, Lindsey Welp on tenor saxophone, and Dan Phipps on baritone saxophone. The quartet formed as students at the University of Georgia, studying with Dr. Connie Frigo.
Mixed Media won the gold medal in the Senior Wind Division at the 2022 49th Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, first prize in the Senior Mixed Instrumental Division at the Coltman Chamber Music Competition, and The American Prize in Collegiate Chamber Music Performance. They were also named national finalists in the Music Teachers National Association Chamber Wind Competition as well as semifinalists in the North American Saxophone Alliance Quartet Competition. In September of 2022, Mixed Media embarked on the Fischoff Winner’s Gold Tour, performing concerts and taking part in masterclasses and outreach at venues across the Midwest.
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Michael Chapa
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Dallas, Texas native, Michael Chapa (he/him) is an eclectic and passionate artist and educator who is recognized for his expertise in chamber music and his conception of interdisciplinary programs.
From October 2020 to August 2021, Michael traveled to Paris, France to study contemporary music and interdisciplinary collaboration at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Boulogne-Billancourt with Jean-Michel Goury. Being awarded the 2020-2021 Harriet Hale Woolley Scholarship, he lived at the Fondation des États-Unis as a resident musician. As a part of the Cycle d’Orientation Professionnelle degree program, he sought out several visual artists, dancers, and art organizations to work in art shows and installations throughout Paris. The largest installation featured the entire interior of a Cité Universitaire housing facility. In collaboration with artist Madison Vander Ark, the building-scale installation “Pariétal: à travers les toiles” involved video projections, painted veils, altered walkways, multiple speakers, several sculptures, and live saxophone improvisation.
Fostering a strong passion for education, Michael has worked in several public schools during his undergraduate degree as a music education major. He specializes in concert and marching band education and has assisted with the Marching Illinois at the University of Illinois. Michael now works with the Redcoats and other sports ensembles as an Athletic Bands Teaching Assistantship through the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. He is in his third year of the DMA degree in saxophone performance at the University of Georgia under the tutelage of Dr. Connie Frigo and Dr. Brandon Quarles. Previous mentors include Jean-Michel Goury at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Boulogne-Billancourt (Cycle d’Orientation Professionnelle), Debra Richtmeyer at the University of Illinois (MM and Artist Diploma) and Dr. Nathan Nabb at Stephen F. Austin State University (Bachelor of Music in Education).
Julien Berger
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Julien Berger (he/him) is a composer and saxophonist based in Athens, GA. His music on both the saxophone and on paper is emotional and programmatic, providing the audience a unique glimpse into his artistic vision.
An avid lover of chamber music and large ensembles, Julien writes music rooted in storytelling and emotion. His music is heavily influenced by his upbringing as a saxophonist; Julien is influenced by contemporary wind ensemble music, saxophone chamber and solo music, and other contemporary styles, such as hip hop, jazz, and pop. His aim is to connect with audiences with his music across the boundaries of genre and style. Recently, his arrangements of songs by Cassie Chantel have been performed at the Georgia Theatre in Athens, GA and have been recorded for a studio album coming out towards the end of 2023. In collaboration with Bryan Wysocki, he co-composed the opera Down the Rabbit Hole, following the story and original words of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Many of his pieces have been performed by other UGA students throughout the Hugh Hodgson School of Music and other composition festivals.
An active performer, Julien Berger has experience playing with numerous ensembles and has put on multiple recitals throughout his career. He is the alto saxophone chair of Mixed Media, 1st prize winners at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and the Coltman National Chamber Music Competition. His love for new music extends to performance, leading him to commission five different composers at the University of Georgia for a recital of world premieres in April 2022. As part of the UGA Saxophone Octet, Julien premiered Kevin Day’s “More than words…” at the 2020 North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference.
Julien holds degrees in Saxophone Performance (BM) and Composition (BM) from the University of Georgia. Previous teachers include Dr. Connie Frigo, Dr. Brandon Quarles, Mr. Edward Fraedrich (saxophone), Dr. Peter Lane, Dr. Emily Koh, and Dr. Adrian Childs (composition).
Lindsey Welp
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Lindsey Welp (she/her) is a saxophonist and educator based in Athens, Georgia. Her interests lie in interdisciplinary collaboration and the curation of new works. Lindsey’s accolades include two first prizes at the MTNA Young Performing Artist State Solo Competition, first prize at the LaGrange Symphony Young Artist Competition, third prize in the Elise Hall Competition for Emerging Saxophonists, and two-time semifinalist in the NASA Collegiate Solo Competition. She has won concerto competitions at both DePauw University and Bowling Green State University.
Lindsey is the tenor saxophonist in the award-winning saxophone quartet Mixed Media. The group won the gold medal at the 2022 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, Senior Winds category, resulting in a 2-week tour of the Midwest. Mixed Media was awarded first prize at the 2022 Coltman Chamber Music Competition in Austin, TX, and advanced to the national finals of the 2022 MTNA Chamber Music Competition.
A passionate educator, Lindsey is the director and founder of the North Georgia Saxophone Ensemble, a no-cost, no-audition high school saxophone ensemble. Lindsey recently served as the Adjunct Instructor of saxophone at Terra State Community College. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in saxophone performance at the University of Georgia, where she serves as the graduate teaching assistant to the saxophone studio. Lindsey’s mentors include Scotty Stepp, Jean-Yves Fourmeau, John Sampen, and Connie Frigo.
Dan Phipps
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Dan Phipps (he/him) is a saxophonist, educator, and improviser based in Athens, GA. A large portion of Dan’s practice is dedicated to the dialogical process between composer and performer. An advocate for the performance of new works, Dan has had an active role in the creative process of works for chamber ensemble, and solo saxophone by composers such as Badie Khaleghian, Kyle Grimm, and Luis McDougal. Additionally, he has attended summer festivals dedicated to new music as a performer participant, such as the SPLICE Institute and New Music on the Point, where he worked with esteemed composers Amy Beth Kirsten, Amy Williams, Susie Ibarra, and Elliott Sharp on performances of their work.
Dan has received many accolades as a solo and chamber performer, winning concerto competitions at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and University of Georgia. He has also won the Georgia and Massachusetts MTNA Young Artist Woodwind Solo competitions and received an honorable mention in the Eastern Regional competition. As tenor saxophonist of the Athena Quartet, he was semifinalist at the North American Saxophone Alliance 2018 Conference. Dan currently is the baritone saxophonist of the award-winning Mixed Media saxophone quartet.
As an educator, Dan has taught saxophone to students of various levels and ages. In 2019-2021, he served as a saxophone instructor at the UGA Summer Music Institute. During his Master of Music studies, Dan taught Freshman Aural Skills, for which he won UGA’s Outstanding Teaching Award in 2019. Dan is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at the University of Georgia under Dr. Connie Frigo.
