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The Moanin’ Frogs, a saxophone sextet that includes Jonathan Hulting-Cohen, associate professor of saxophone, recently won the Menuhin Gold Prize at the 12^th Osaka International Chamber Music Festa in Japan.

Held every three years, the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition & Festa features competitively selected groups from around the world.  The Chamber Music Competition is restricted to string ensembles, but the Festa is open to all music genres and types of musical instruments. The Moanin’ Frogs were one of the 16 ensembles from 10 different countries that advanced to live rounds in Osaka, Japan, in May, and was one of only two U.S. groups selected. Advancement in the Festa is determined by popular vote by a jury of music-loving community members. The competition’s highest honor, the Menuhin Gold Prize, includes a cash award and a concert tour across Japan in 2028.

An internationally recognized performer, educator, and advocate for chamber music, whose work spans from vaudeville to the vanguard of contemporary music, Hulting-Cohen joined the UMass Amherst faculty as an assistant professor in 2014. He is co-founder of The Moanin’ Frogs, who feature six different saxophones, from sopranino to bass, and serves as the group’s tenor and sopranino saxophonist.

Livestream recordings from the competition, including the performances of The Moanin’ Frogs, are available on YouTube.