Guest artist Todd Gaffke will perform  on saxophone in recital at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 5 in Presser Hall. The performance is free and open to the public.

Gaffke is assistant professor of saxophone at The University of Akron. He graduated from Central Michigan University, as well as a master’s degree in performance and doctoral degree in saxophone performance with jazz cognate from Michigan State University.

He will be accompanied by pianist Deborah Yasutake. Yasutake is an active pianist in the Akron/Cleveland area and is a staff accompanist at the University of Akron. She maintains a private piano studio in Stow.

Gaffke enjoys a diverse musical career as a performer and educator. He has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States and in Europe, performing a variety of modern saxophone works as well as classics and transcriptions. Gaffke is also adept in jazz repertoire.