Nick Svoboda can perform pieces on the saxophone that one music instructor said should be beyond his performance level, and he will demonstrate that ability this afternoon.

At 4 p.m. today in Esber Recital Hall, Music Building I, Svoboda (senior-music education) will perform his senior saxophone recital. The performance will include five 20th century pieces by American and Japanese composers.

"Nick is playing a difficult program that is usually performed by grad students or music performance majors," said David Stambler, School of Music saxophone instructor of six years. "He is well above the expected level."

The recital will include "Sonata" by William Albright, "Concerto" by Ingolf Dahl, "Greensilver" by Evan Chambers, "Fuzzy Bird Sonata" by Takashi Yoshimatsu and "Birds in Warped Time" by Satoh.

"I am very excited because I have worked on these pieces for a year now," Svoboda said. "My favorite piece is 'Sonata' because it has a lot of emotion and things that have to make the performer think. It has deep subject matter."

The classical selections Svoboda will perform stray from the idea the saxophone is meant only for jazz music.

"People usually associate the saxophone with jazz music, but it has become a long tradition in classical repertoire," Deanna Loertscher (graduate-music) said.

Svoboda, who was also the concerto soloist in the Philharmonic Orchestra performance on Oct. 12, has been playing the saxophone since fourth grade, but he admitted he did not become serious until he started studying it intensely in college.

He added that although he has studied additional instruments, including the guitar, he is still strongest at saxophone.

Stambler said during the hour-and-20-minute performance, Svoboda will be assisted by pianist, Svetlana Rodionova , for four pieces. Mallory Leach (senior-music education), a fellow saxophone player, will also join Svoboda in the piece, "Greensilver."

"I am really looking forward to the performance," Leach said. "We are both graduating this year, and it is an honor to play with him."

Stambler described Svoboda as "self-directed and curious" who has grown significantly as a musician through his education.

"Nick has been here for four years, has developed immensely and become one of the strongest musicians in the whole School of Music," he said. "He has creative responsibility and he doesn't need anyone to tell him what to do."

Stambler said he has professionally performed three of the five pieces Svoboda will perform. He likes the pieces by Albright, Dahl and Yoshimatsu.

"This recital demonstrates the enormous capacity of the saxophone in the classical music setting," Stambler said. "People don't get to see the outstanding work that they do that usually goes unnoticed."