CLASSICAL saxophone player Nick Russoniello is an unusual figure on the Australian scene – master of an instrument most people associate with jazz and he is about to perform in Canberra for the first time.

Originally from Wollongong, Russoniello studied sax at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, winning firsts, then studying at the European Summer Saxophone University and completing his postgraduate diploma at the Milan Conservatory.

In 2011 he became ABC Young Performer of the Year, then in 2013 a Fine Music Kruger Scholar.

“Between Worlds” is Russoniello’s debut solo album, performed in what he assures “CityNews” is an “unlikely marriage” of saxophone with the respected string group, the Acacia Quartet, with whom he explores music from tango to ragtime to rock “and everything between”.

Russoniello has commissioned, arranged and composed music for the project, which also features works by Australians Elena-Kats Chernin, Jeremy Rose and Barry Cockcroft.

As one critic says: “Russoniello sings, slaps, scoops and slides in this virtuosic new soundscape of and sonorous strings.”

“Between Worlds”, at Wesley Music Centre, 4pm, Sunday, September 14, bookings via eventbrite.com.au tickets at the door.