Roger Pace, Saxophone
GSO Member Since 2025
Favorite GSO Memory: I really like playing under Ron Vernon. As a former band director I appreciate and marvel how he, using very few words, lets us know how he wants us to play a particular phrase or passage. He keeps the rehearsals light, focused, and always moving forward.
The bus trip to perform in Savannah, TN... I have never been on a bus that quiet with so many musicians on it EVER! (...hehehe)
What do you do when you're not playing in the GSO? During the day I (I'm retired and my wife still works...) take care of the household chores. At night I play in several area groups besides the GSO:: The Memphis Wind Symphony, The Memphis Jazz Orchestra, The Memphis Funk-n-Horns cover band, The Snake Doctors Blues Band, and the Jubilation Big Band. In addition to playing sax, I also play the flute and clarinet.
Hobbies and interests? Free time? What's that?
Since 2020, I have presented a jazz concert series from my home "Jazz From The Front Porch" April through September. Concerts are usually the last Sunday of the month. Each of the concerts will have a theme to them: (1st) straight ahead jazz, (2nd) patriotic music for Memorial Day weekend, (3rd) music from animated movies, (4th) the "sing along", (5th) jazz tunes that started off on Broadway, and (6th) "the fall, the moon, and the leaves." The concerts are free and open to the public.
Favorite GSO Memory: I really like playing under Ron Vernon. As a former band director I appreciate and marvel how he, using very few words, lets us know how he wants us to play a particular phrase or passage. He keeps the rehearsals light, focused, and always moving forward.
The bus trip to perform in Savannah, TN... I have never been on a bus that quiet with so many musicians on it EVER! (...hehehe)
What do you do when you're not playing in the GSO? During the day I (I'm retired and my wife still works...) take care of the household chores. At night I play in several area groups besides the GSO:: The Memphis Wind Symphony, The Memphis Jazz Orchestra, The Memphis Funk-n-Horns cover band, The Snake Doctors Blues Band, and the Jubilation Big Band. In addition to playing sax, I also play the flute and clarinet.
Hobbies and interests? Free time? What's that?
Since 2020, I have presented a jazz concert series from my home "Jazz From The Front Porch" April through September. Concerts are usually the last Sunday of the month. Each of the concerts will have a theme to them: (1st) straight ahead jazz, (2nd) patriotic music for Memorial Day weekend, (3rd) music from animated movies, (4th) the "sing along", (5th) jazz tunes that started off on Broadway, and (6th) "the fall, the moon, and the leaves." The concerts are free and open to the public.