SOMA QUARTET

Soma is an award-winning saxophone quartet that was founded at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, under the expert mentorship of Otis Murphy. Soma consists of David Bayard on soprano saxophone, Paul Lorenz on alto saxophone, Sean Bradley on tenor saxophone, and Arthur Liang on baritone saxophone.

Soma has garnered notable achievements and accolades, including the Bronze Medal at the esteemed 48th Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, First Prize in the emerging ensemble division at the NOLA Chamber Fest Competition, and Second Place at the MTNA Chamber Music Competition in 2021. Furthermore, Soma has won the Grand Prize at the prestigious 9th Plowman Chamber Music Competition in 2019. Notable achievements also encompass the Third Place in the 2020 MTNA Chamber Music Competition, the First Runner-Up position in the 2018 Classics Alive Young Artist Competition, and the First Prize in the 2017 Chicago Woodwind Ensemble Competition.

Based out of Bloomington, Indiana, Soma has been actively engaged in captivating audiences since their inception in the fall of 2016, including recitals at the International Navy Band Symposium, the inaugural American Single Reed Summit, and regional as well as national conferences hosted by the North American Saxophone Alliance. With an unwavering commitment to expanding the saxophone quartet repertoire, Soma has collaborated with composers from Indiana University, fostering the creation and performance of new works. While they have a deep passion for traditional repertoire and transcriptions, Soma has also taken great pleasure in conducting numerous outreach concerts in diverse venues, ranging from retirement centers to coffee shops, as well as the Bloomington Transit Center and public library. These outreach concerts exemplify Soma's overarching goal of introducing the captivating sounds of the saxophone to a wider and more diverse audience.