The Venice Saxophone Quartet
Pete BarenBregge -soprano, John Yoakum - alto, Len Pierro - tenor, Scott Kettering - baritone
The Venice Saxophone Quartet is comprised of four of Southwest Florida’s finest saxophone players. They play an eclectic repertoire ranging from classical to jazz including ragtime and works by George Gershwin. They present some of the history of saxophone quartets and perform a varied, entertaining program in a chamber concert style. The current members of the quartet are Pete BarenBregge – soprano, John Yoakum – alto, Len Pierro – tenor, and Scott Kettering – baritone.
Pete BarenBregge is a professional saxophonist/flutist/clarinetist residing in the Sarasota-Venice area, Florida. He is the former musical director of the USAF Airmen of Note in Washington, D.C. After his 20+ year military career, he worked 20+ years as the jazz editor for Alfred Music and continues in this position part time. He has performed/toured in 50 states and 28 countries, released three highly rated CD recordings on Summit Records, and is a voting member of the Grammys. Pete has collaborated with: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dizzy Gillespie and many, many more. He earned a BS in music education at West Chester University. www.petebarenbregge.com
John Yoakum is a professional saxophonist/woodwind player with 50+ years playing for TV/Film in Los Angeles and many productions in Florida. His credits include Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga, Ray Charles, Barbra Streisand, Cheryl Crow, Carly Simon, Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Jewel, as well as Family Guy, Simpsons, American Dad, Animaniacs, Law & Order:SVU & Criminal Intent (Themes), Up, Ratatouille, Jurassic World, Inside Out, Zootopia, Blue Planet 2, American Fiction, Duster (2025).
Len Pierro is a performer, composer, arranger, musical director, producer, and educator from the Philadelphia area. A graduate of the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts, he was an adjunct professor at Bucks County Community College teaching saxophone and woodwinds at their School of Music. Len has been arranging and composing for recordings and live performances for many years. He is the leader of the Len Pierro Jazz Orchestra which has released two CDs titled The Third Quarter (2020) and As I Was Saying (2024). www.lenpierro.com
Scott Kettering currently plays multiple saxophones, clarinet, and flute in the Jazz Ambassadors, the Sarasota Jazz Project, the Suncoast Concert Band, as well as the Les Elgart band and other local music groups. He is active in music groups in New Jersey during the summer months. He taught middle school instrumental music in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania before moving to Sarasota. Scott is a graduate of West Chester University (PA) where he earned his Masters in clarinet performance.