Saxophone

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A native of Colorado, Dr. James Bunte has earned degrees from the University of Colorado at Boulder (BM, BME), and CCM (MM, DMA). As a concert saxophonist, James Bunte is an active recitalist, giving recitals and master classes throughout the United States and most recently France, and Japan. Having presented his Carnegie Hall debut in 2006, he has performed at NASA (North American Saxophone Alliance) regional, national, and world saxophone conferences, recently Thailand, and Taiwan.

Dr. Bunte is the regular saxophonist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and has recorded eight compact discs with the Cincinnati Symphony and Cincinnati Pops. Bunte has performed with the Lyrique en Mer Orchestra (France), Louisville Philharmonic, Dayton Philharmonic, Eugene Symphony, Charleston Symphony, Richmond Symphony (IN), Kentucky Symphony, Springfield Symphony (OH) and the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra. Recent CD releases include the premier CD from Oasis Quartet on the Innova label.

Bunte is also an experienced jazz musician, having toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines; and having performed with Ray Charles, Manhattan Transfer, New York Voices, Dick Hyman, Byron Stripling, John Pizzarelli, Stefan Carlsson, Cook, Dixon and Young, and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Bunte has been on the faculty at the University of Oregon, Miami University (OH) and Northern Kentucky University, but he also has public school experience at a Kentucky high school. James Bunte is a Yamaha and Vandoren Artist.

Jeremy Castañeda studied saxophone performance at CCM with Dr. James Bunte. During his time at the school, Castañeda performed as a member of the Wind Symphony and two graduate saxophone quartets: The 3-2-5 Quartet and the Promethean Quartet (the latter of which was a 2013 Finalist at the prestegious Coleman Chamber Competition in Pasadena, California).

As an educator, Castañeda taught music education at an Indiana school from 2010-2011. He also taught private lessons to students at local high schools and middle schools. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in music education at Ball State University, where he studied saxophone with Dr. George Wolfe and performed with various ensembles including the Ball State Saxophone Quartet, Symphony Band, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, and Jazz Ensembles. Castañeda was also a frequent guest performer at the prestigious Chautauqua Institution during his undergraduate studies.

Castañeda won numerous concerto competitions and performed featured solos with large ensembles while attending Ball State University. He was a selected winner of the Ball State Undergraduate Concerto Competition in 2008 and performed Henri Tomasi's Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra with the Ball State Symphony Orchestra. Castaneda also won the Kokomo Park Band Student Solo College Division Concerto Competition in 2008 and performed Paul Creston's Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Band with the Kokomo Park Band. Castañeda also won first place for the Kokomo Symphony Orchestra's Young Artist Senior Division Concerto Competition in 2008. He performed Henri Tomasi's Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra with the Kokomo Symphony Orchestra in 2009 and also performed Catch Me If You Can by John Williams featured for Alto Saxophone and Concert Band during his undergraduate studies.

Castañeda was a recipient of the Dale Baker Scholarship and the Brian Minor Scholarship while attending Ball State University. He is an alumnus of the music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and is a member of the North American Saxophone Alliance.

Brandon Jinwoo Choi is in great demand as an international soloist and he has appeared across three continents, in France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Korea, Japan, and United States. As a soloist, he has performed with ensembles including The Rumania Ploiesti State Philharmonic Orchestra, Chung-ang University orchestra, Chuang-Ang University Wind Orchestra, Korea M Philharmonic Orchestra, the Korea Navy band, and in the great halls of the Seoul Art Center with Chung-Ang University Wind Orchestra. Choi also gave the world premiere of Sull'ala Concerto for Saxophone by Susan Botti with the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of MusicWind Orchestra on March 13th, 2014. 

Choi regularly attends the regional, national conferences and several of the world’s most prestigious fine arts conferences including 36th International Navy band saxophone symposium at the George Washington University, the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Biennial National Conference at the University of Illinois, North American Saxophone Alliance Region V Conference at Bowling Green State University, College Band Directors National Association at the North Carolina State University, France International saxophone Institute at Saint-Meur, Paris -Conservatory of Music and Yamaha saxophone institute, American Saxophone Academy at the Eastman Music University.

As a Chamber Musician Choi is currently Saxophone Chair of Miclot Production Players Group and alto saxophone of The Promethean Quartet. The Miclot Production first began in 1993, Sunnyside, New York. Miclot is still running its production annually, hoping to further expand Christian culture by delivering the “Small Voice” of God. Meanwhile, Promethean's debut album, Through Adam`s Fall, was released in October 2013 and features music by Alfred Desenclos, David Maslanka and Percy Grainger. The Promethean Quartet has received numerous honors, including selection as one of the top four wind ensembles in the finals of the Alice Coleman National Chamber Music Competition (2013). The promethean Quartet completed a five-state tour in 2013, including several performances and master classes at public schools and universities. 

Choi has won top prizes in many national and international competitions, including 1st Prize Concerto Competition (Sull'ala Concerto for Saxophone and wind Orchestra) at The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, The MTNA Ohio Competition, The MTNA Ohio Chamber competition, The Korean American Youth Cultural foundation competition (1st prize), The Hanjeon Artspool Center Competition (1st prize),The Korea Wind Chamber Music Competition (1st prize),The Music Association of Korea Competition (1st place), The Music Education Newspaper Competition (1st prize),The Haneum National Music Competition, 1st prize, The Seoul National Symphony Orchestra Competition, 1st prize. 

Choi took several the Master classes and Lessons from honorable professors such as Claude delangle, Arno Bornkamp, Nobuya Sugawa, Jean-yves Fourmer, Christan Writh, Philppe Portjoe, Nicola Prost, John Sampen, Tom Myer, Otis Murphy​, Chein-kwan lin, Timothy Mc Alister, Kenneth Tse, Carrie Koffman, Jeremy Long, Stephen page.​

Choi earned his DMA at CCM, where he previously earned his Master of Music degree in Saxophone performance. He also holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Chung-Ang University in South Korea. His teachers include Dr. James Bunte, Rick VanMatre, Soon sub Jung, and Jong sun Eun. Learn more about Choi by visiting www.brandonjinwoochoi.com

Joe Craig joined the Beechwood High School Music Faculty in the summer of 2006 as the Associate Director of Bands. Most recently, Mr. Craig assumed the title of Director of Bands in the summer of 2009. During Mr. Craig’s tenure, students at Beechwood have achieved several accolades. The Bands under Mr. Craig’s direction consistently received distinguished ratings at KMEA Concert Band Festivals. The Jazz ensemble has been the top performing group at the Northern Kentucky Jazz Festival for the past five years, and was most recently selected to perform at the 2010 KMEA Conference. This is the first group in Beechwood history to achieve this prestigious honor. The Beechwood marching band has also been a consistent State Finalist, BOA Semi-Finalist, 3-time KMEA State Champion, and a 2-time BOA Class A National Champion during Mr. Craig’s time at Beechwood. Students from Beechwood have also achieved many individual honors, including numerous Select Bands, All State Groups, and college scholarships. Mr. Craig is also an active private lesson instructor, teaching privately for the past 12 years.

Mr. Craig received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Northern Kentucky University (2004) and his Masters Degree in Saxophone Performance at the College Conservatory of Music (CCM) at the University of Cincinnati (2006). Mr. Craig has performed with the Cincinnati “Pops” Orchestra, the Kentucky Symphony, the CCM Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble, the Kentucky Intercollegiate Concert and Jazz Ensembles, and the NKU Symphonic Winds and Jazz Band, and numerous local professional groups and big bands. During his collegiate career, Mr. Craig was a featured soloist at NKU and CCM, full scholarship recipient at both NKU and CCM, and a concerto competition winner. Mr. Craig also performed and competed at the 2002 and 2006 North American Saxophone Alliance conferences. In 2007, Mr. Craig was awarded the “Certificate of Merit for Marching Excellence” by the National Band Association. Mr. Craig is a Northern Kentucky native, and a graduate of Scott High School in Taylor Mill.

Joe Duran studied saxophone with James Bunte, Brent Gallaher, and Rick VanMatre. His other saxophone teachers have included Jim Free, Gene Marquis, and Daniel Puccio. In addition, he studied composition with Paul Brewer, Kim Pensy, Paul Piller, and Scott Belck, as well as piano with Phil DeGreg.

As a performer, Joe served in various capacities including lead alto in the CCM Jazz Lab Band, CCM combos, CCM Spoleto Jazz Ensemble, and the Interlochen Big Band. He has also been a featured soloist at CCM Saxophone Day and worked with (among others) The Joneses, The Bevadores, Mike Wade’s Jazz Ambassadors, and the British Broadcasting Corporation. For his playing, Joe has received outstanding awards for jazz from Interlochen and numerous festivals.

Along with saxophone, Joe Duran is proficient on several other instruments, including piano, clarinet, and flute. He is also active as a composer, songwriter, and arranger, working with several CCM ensembles such as the Brazilian Ensemble, Lab Band, Jazz Ensemble, and saxophone quartet. Further collaborators include the Third Stream Orchestra, Ed Moss’ Society Jazz Orchestra, Sycamore High School Theater Department, Interlochen Faculty Jazz Ensemble, The Cincy Brass, and Good Shepherd Foreign Ministries (for whom he has taught songwriting seminars).

Joe has also scored and produced films (including several submitted to the Sundance Film Festival) since the age of seventeen.

Brent Gallaher is a Cincinnati, Ohio based saxophonist and has resided there since 1988. He is an alumnus of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and was featured on their album Carnival of Life, which was released by Alissa Records in 1994. While attending CCM, Gallaher took a brief hiatus to join the Glenn Miller Orchestra. He toured with the ensemble from 1991–1992 and can be heard on their 1992 album Here We Go Again. He returned to Cincinnati and CCM in 1992 and in 1994 completed his bachelors degree in Jazz Performance.

In November 1998, Gallaher was called to tour with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra under the direction of Buddy Morrow. Gallaher was with the Dorsey band for just under a year. He returned to Dorsey in 2000 and was with them for an additional seven months.

Gallaher has since been working as a freelance musician, private instructor and clinician. Locally, Gallaher has performed with the Blue Wisp Big Band, Cohesion Jazz Ensemble, Cal Collins, the Phil DeGreg Trio, the Lou Lausche Quartet, the Ron Enyard Trio, Wilbert Longmire, Ed Moss Society Jazz Orchestra and the Psychoacoustic Orchestra. The Cohesion Jazz Ensemble and The Psychoacoustic Orchestra are featured on J-Curve’s Cincinnati Jazz Collection Vol. 1 (1998) with Gallaher as a member. Gallaher also recorded with the Psychoacoustic Orchestra on Blackstone's Hidden Treasures—Cincinnati's Tribute to King Records' Legacy (2003).

In August of 2003, Gallaher completed the recording of his first CD Vanessa's Song and it was released in March of 2004. This CD features the talents of Jim Connerley on piano, Jim Anderson on bass and Tony Franklin on drums. Gallaher recorded with Over the Rhine in the fall of 2004, for their album Drunkard's Prayer. He can also be heard on The Jazz Circle’s debut CD Joshua, which was released March of 2006.

March 2010 marked the release of Gallaher 's second recording project titled Lightwave. This features the talents of Dan Karlsberg on piano, Steve Whipple on bass and Anthony Lee on drums.

Presently, Gallaher continues to freelance and can be heard with a wide variety of groups including the the Masterworks Jazz Orchestra, The Vintage Keys Project, Tropicoso, the Pete Wagner Orchestra, the Blue Wisp Big Band, the Art Gore Quartet and the Cincinnati Pops.

Since earning an undergraduate degree from Central Michigan University (BM) and a Masters degree from CCM (MM), Jennifer Grantham has been an active teacher and musician in the Cincinnati area. She is currently the Jazz Area Coordinator for Xavier University, and serves as Adjunct Saxophone Professor and Jazz Ensemble Director at the College of Mount St. Joseph.  Jennifer is in her ninth year as Saxophone Instructor at the CCM Preparatory Department, where she founded the Summer Jazz Band Camp and Saxophone Symposium, directs the Combo Program and was recently selected as the Jazz Area Coordinator. Outside of these positions, Jennifer maintains a private studio of 35 students, and presents master classes on a variety of topics.

As a classical musician she has performed at several national, regional, and international conferences of the North American Saxophone Alliance, World Saxophone Congress, and Ohio Music Educator's Association. She has also performed with the Seven Hills Sinfonietta and Kentucky Symphony Orchestra. As a jazz and commercial musician, she performs in a variety of groups and styles, including her own jazz groups, Orquesta Kandela, Azucor Tumbao and Souse.

Lindsey Jacob is a composer and saxophonist currently residing in Cincinnati, Ohio. At CCM, she studied composition with Michael Fiday and saxophone with James Bunte. Former composition teachers include Stephen David Beck, Dinos Constantinides, Mara Helmuth, David Schneider and John Steffa, and former saxophone teachers include Griffin Campbell and Scott Erickson.

She holds an MM in Composition from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and graduated summa cum laude with a BM in Education from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky.

Lindsey is an avid performer, composer, and advocate of contemporary works. Currently, she is an active member of the Cincinnati Composers Laptop Ensemble Project (CiCLOP) and in 2009–010, she was a member of the Laptop Orchestra of Louisiana, a research and performance ensemble at Louisiana State University. She also frequently premieres and performs her own solo saxophone works, as well as pieces by fellow contemporary composers.

Many of her recent compositions explore elements of timbre and feature transcriptions and adaptations from natural sources, specifically human speech patterns and bird songs. Her compositions encompass works in several mediums, including chamber ensemble, fixed media, live electro‐acoustic music, symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, chorus, as well as solo works for saxophone, bass clarinet, classical guitar and percussion.

Lindsey is an advocate for contemporary music and generates opportunities for new music to be heard by diverse audiences. As a former president (2009–010) of the Mid‐South Chapter of the National Association of Composers/USA (NACUSA), Lindsey organized concerts of new music (including her own works) throughout Louisiana, specifically events at Louisiana State University, Louisiana Tech University, the Baton Rouge Gallery and the Open Ears Music Series in New Orleans.

Geoffrey Landman is a performer, teacher, and advocate of the saxophone and new music.  He has performed across North America, Europe, Singapore, Thailand, and in New York City’s most well-known venues including Carnegie Hall, Miller Theatre at Columbia University, The United Nations, Trinity Wall Street, The Morgan Library, and John Zorn’s The Stone.

Dr. Landman is the Associate Professor of the Practice in Saxophone at the University of Kansas, and previously served on the faculty of the Longy School of Music of Bard College in Cambridge, MA. An active recitalist and masterclass clinician, he has been a featured guest artist at many of the premiere music schools in the world including Northwestern University, University of Michigan, Hochschule für Musik Nürnburg (Germany), University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (Singapore), Berklee College of Music, University of Texas, New England Conservatory, Peabody Conservatory, University of Alberta (Canada), and Florida State University.

He has performed as soloist with the Bach, Beethoven & Brahms Society Orchestra, Yale Philharmonia, University of Cincinnati CCM Wind Ensemble, University of Kansas Wind Ensemble, Crossroads Wind Symphony, and at festivals including the Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik Darmstadt, Tanglewood New Music Festival, PROTOTYPE Festival, MIKROS Festival, Sounding Now Festival, and Mise-en Festival. Geoffrey is the saxophonist of the Wavefield Ensemble, Either/Or Ensemble, and has collaborated with groups including the Talea Ensemble, Argento New Music Project, Metropolis Ensemble, and Fireworks Ensemble. He is one half of the Landman/Stadler Saxophone Duo along with German saxophonist Patrick Stadler. For 8 years Geoffrey was the soprano saxophonist with the New Thread Quartet, a saxophone quartet he co-founded in 2011. As an orchestral saxophonist, he performs with Music at Trinity Wall Street’s NovusNY, Norwalk Symphony Orchestra, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and was a Fellow at the 2015 and 2016 Tanglewood Music Festivals.

Having premiered over 80 works for saxophone, Geoffrey has worked with composers including Ann Cleare, Philippe Leroux, Christian Lauba, Giorgio Netti, Mark-Anthony Turnage, and Elliott Sharp. Geoffrey has collaborated with many acclaimed artists, including vocalists Donatienne Michel-Dansac, Tony Arnold, Lena Willemark, and Ulrika Bodén; JACK String Quartet, TILT Brass, Prism Saxophone Quartet, pianist/composer Osnat Netzer, and poet J.D. McClatchy. He has recorded for labels including New World, Sterling Modern, New Focus, Navona, and BMOP/sound. Landman’s performance at Columbia University’s Miller Theatre of Karin Rehnqvist’s Rädda mig ur dyn for alto saxophone and soprano voice (Ulrika Bodén) was chosen by the composer to be included in her album “LIVE” on the Sterling Modern label, which was awarded the 2014 Swedish Grammy for ‘Classical Album of the Year’.

He holds degrees from the University of Michigan (BM), University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (MM), Post-graduate work at the Hochschule für Musik Basel in Switzerland, and New England Conservatory where he was the first ever DMA in saxophone performance in the school’s history. His principal teachers are Donald Sinta, Marcus Weiss, James Bunte, and Kenneth Radnofsky. Geoffrey Landman is a Conn-Selmer, D’Addario Woodwinds, and BG France performing artist and performs exclusively on Selmer Paris saxophones, D’Addario Reserve reeds, and BG France ligatures and accessories.

Visit Geoffrey Landman's website

Kristin Lin studied with Dr. James Bunte and was the soprano and alto player in the Fjroshior Quartet (the 2011-2012 undergraduate quartet at CCM). She grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. Kristin is a ’09 Lakota West High School graduate, and participated in their jazz, concert, and marching band; she played lead alto sax in both the top jazz and concert band, Symphonic Winds. She also was field commander of the Marching Firebirds for two years, attending the Rose Parade with them in 2008. Kristin has studied saxophone with Chris Brandenburg and Herb Aronoff; she also studied piano with Sheila Vail for nearly ten years.

Recently, Kristin worked with Dr. Bunte and Jennifer Grantham in developing the CCM Saxophone Symposium, a summer program for local middle and high school students. In 2011, the first year of the symposium, Kristin worked as a staff member, playing in the ensemble and co-coaching the middle school quartet with Geoff Landman. The same year she also worked with Dr. Ann Porter in the Summer Band Experience, another summer program offered through CCM. In 2012, Kristin participated in the second CCM Saxophone Symposium as a faculty member, coaching the middle school quartet and leading the large ensemble. Kristin is also the 2011-2012 student intern for the CCM Prep group Cincinnati Youth Jazz Orchestra, CYJO, under the direction of Todd Hartman.

As a future music educator, she hopes to inspire students to excel beyond the obvious. She also wishes to demonstrate that music and learning are beyond the classroom.

Kevin Norton earned his DMA in saxophone at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (where he studies with Dr. James Bunte). He is currently a private instructor in the Cincinnati metro area, primarily at Walnut Hills High School and the Indian Hill Performing Arts Academy. During the 2012-13 school year, he was also an Adjunct Professor (teaching Intro to Music and music history) at The Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio.

At CCM, he also earned a cognate in Romantic and twentieth-century musicology. Most recently, he had an article published (concerning the so-called "Shostakovich Wars") in the July 2013 edition of DSCH Journal.

A native of Williamsburg, Kentucky, Kevin previously studied at Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky under Dr. Nathan Nabb and Prof. Eugene Norden.  At Morehead, Kevin earned a Bachelor’s degree (Summa cum laude) in Music Education and a Master of Music in saxophone performance.

He has participated in several honors ensembles, including the Kentucky Intercollegiate Band and the CBDNA Southern Division Honors Band.  He has also performed (both solo and with quartets) at several previous NASA events: regional conferences at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro (2007), Northeastern Illinois University (2011) and Bowling Green State University (2013); the 2008 national conference at the University of South Carolina; the 2010 national conference at the University of Georgia; the 2012 national conference at Arizona State University; and the 2014 national conference at the University of Illinois.

In addition, Kevin has actively premiered several new works for saxophone. As a member of the CCM Graduate Saxophone Quartet, helped premiere composer Matthew Browne’s work “Two Pieces” at the 2011 Navy Band Saxophone Symposium at George Mason University. A year later, he (as a member of the 3-2-5 Quartet) premiered Amber Autumn by CCM composer Carrie Magin at the Arizona State conference. Most recently, Kevin gave the world premiere of composer Ian Dicke's soprano sax arrangement of his Chapter One, Page One at the 2014 NASA conference. His latest commission is a work by Brandon Nelson for soprano saxophone and piano entitled PRN.

Kevin Norton is a current member of the Prestalgia Duo along with Jennifer Grantham (saxophone professor at Xavier University and CCM alumnus). Together, they were members of a consortium (headed by the Ogni Suono duo) that commissioned Ian Dicke's work Straphanger (for tenor and baritone sax); the Prestalgia Duo gave the Region 5 premiere of the work at the 2013 conference at Bowling Green. Kevin and Jennifer also actively perform together in the Cincinnati area, most recently in April 2014 for the Cincinnati version of Classical Revolution.

Saxophonist and pedagogue Neal Postma holds degrees from CCM (MM) and the University of Colorado (BM). As a concert saxophonist Neal has performed across the United States and China giving performances in such venues as Los Angeles’ Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Newman Center for the Performing Arts, The Idyllwild  Performing Arts Center and has given recitals at universities and various regional, national and international conferences. His primary teachers are Dr. James Bunte, Tom Myer, and Dr. Alan Durst. Neal is a P. Mauriat endorsing artist and performs exclusively on their saxophones.

As an educator Neal currently holds the position of MYP Director of Western Music at the Guangdong Country Garden International School (an IB accredited school) near Guangzhou, China. He is also sought after as a clinician having given masterclasses across the US.

As a soloist he has been featured most recently on a tour of performances premiering Matt Browne’s Three Doggerel Dances for Soprano Saxophone and Concert Band, at the Idyllwild Music Festival on his second solo performance, North American Saxophone Alliance Regional Conferences, The United States Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium, and with the University of Colorado Saxophone Ensemble on several performances of Jacque Ibert’s Concertino Da Camera. He has also appeared as the principal/soprano saxophonist with the Idillwild Wind Ensemble, and performed at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club in Cincinnati, OH.

Following being a soloist with the Denver Young Artists Orchestra, Neal was asked to do a segment on playing saxophone with an orchestra for Colorado Public Radio.

Active in the musical theater scene, Neal has performed various shows with the Colorado Light Opera and Footlighters Inc. performing on saxophone, flute and clarinet.

An avid proponent of new music Neal has commissioned and premiered solo and chamber works by composers Brendan Keenan, Matthew Browne, Greg Simon, and Hunter Ewen.

Saxophonist Michael Shults has been praised for his “strong, imaginative” improvisations (Downbeat Magazine) and “fresh and intelligent musical ideas” (The Pitch). A first-call musician on the Kansas City jazz scene for nearly a decade, Shults remains an active performer in the Fountain City, Memphis, and beyond, and has twice appeared as a sideman on the Jazzweek National Radio Airplay Charts. As an MM graduate in jazz studies student at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Michael was a finalist in the 2012 North American Saxophone Alliance Jazz Artist Competition, and was the winner of the Graduate College Soloist category in the 2012 Downbeat Magazine Student Music Awards Issue. He has since performed by invitation as a featured soloist at the North American Saxophone Alliance biennial conference, the Jazz Education Network conference, the Midwest Clinic, the Wisconsin Music Educator's Association conference, the Minnesota Music Educator's Association conference, and the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival.

As a concert saxophonist, Shults has been praised for his “jaw-dropping” and “authoritative” performances (Bill Brownlee of the Kansas City Star) and has performed by invitation at the College Band Director's National Association conference, North American Saxophone Alliance biennial conference, the Minnesota Music Educator's Association conference, and the University of Iowa Festival for New Music. He is a founding faculty member of the Kansas CitySaxophone Workshop along with Zach Shemon, alto saxophonist of the PRISM Quartet. Dr.Shults has also served on the faculty of the Eugene Rousseau Saxophone Workshop at ShellLake Arts Center. He is currently the alto saxophone chair in the Coalescent Quartet and also serves as the chair of the North American Saxophone Alliance Jazz Competition Committee.

Dr. Shults is Assistant Professor of Saxophone at the University of Memphis, and previously held the same position for four years at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He is a Yamaha and D’Addario performing artist and performs on their instruments and reeds exclusively. Visit Michael's website

Rick VanMatre is Adjunct Professor of Saxophone and Professor Emeritus of Jazz Studies at CCM. He has presented solo recitals and jazz club performances in the US, Europe, Israel, Brazil, and Asia. He is widely recognized for bringing a unique, identifiable voice to a variety of genres. In addition to leading his own ensembles with original music, his collaborations have included commissions and premieres of unique crossover works featuring art installation, aleatoric computer music, organ, vocal ensemble, Indian music, drama, and multimedia presentations entitled “Earthkind-Humankind” showcasing poetry and dance. He has performed with such diverse ensembles as the Duke Ellington Orchestra led by Mercer Ellington, the Woody Herman Orchestra led by Frank Tiberi, Roland Vazquez’s contemporary Latin groups, and artists like John McNeil, Tim Hagans, and Gene Bertoncini. Recordings as featured jazz soloist include the PsychoAcoustic Orchestra, the Kim Pensyl Ensemble, the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Manhattan Transfer and John Pizzarelli. As a classical saxophonist, he has recorded interactive drama/music videos with composer/bassist Frank Proto, has appeared with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, concert:nova, and James Conlon’s Linton Series, and has been a concerto soloist with the New York Repertory Orchestra, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Sichuan Symphony Orchestra (China), Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra, Middletown Symphony, and Illinois Philharmonic. He holds the soprano chair in the New Third Stream Saxophone Quartet, an innovative ensemble combining jazz and classical elements. The Chicago Star has written that “VanMatre’s art is without comparison; his technique exact, yet smooth, his expression poignant and personal,” and the Cincinnati Enquirer has stated that his “artistry was seamless, technically superb and musically inventive...His musicianship was so effortless.” VanMatre is also active as a conductor and has directed programs on American Jazz Radio Festival, NPR, and for artists like Kenny Garrett, Slide Hampton, Joe Henderson, Ahmad Jamal, David Liebman, Jim McNeely, Joshua Redman, Kenny Werner, and Kenny Wheeler. In the field of broadcasting, he served as the on-air host and interviewer for the nationally syndicated radio series “Jazz - Live From the Hyatt” featuring artists like Joe Lovano and John Clayton.

Formerly as CCM's Director of Jazz Studies, VanMatre was responsible for expanding the BM in Jazz, creating the MM in Jazz Studies and the DMA in Saxophone, and establishing the Jazz Recording Studio. He also headed the CCM Visiting Artist Series, one of the most extensive in the nation, including over 150 important jazz performers and composers such as Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride, Maria Schneider, George Duke, and Eddie Daniels. As conductor of the CCM Jazz Ensemble, he produced five CD recordings for Sea Breeze Records. Serenade in Blue received a first round Grammy nomination and was described by Cadence magazine as a “necessary part of any big-band enthusiast's library” and Jazz News praised Carnival of Life as being “performed with conspicuous elegance and precision.”

He has presented performances and lectures for the International Association for Jazz Education, Music Educators National Conference, North American Saxophone Alliance, World Saxophone Congress, Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Clinics, International Summer Jazz Academy in Warsaw, Poland, and for universities and conferences in Europe, China, Thailand, and Brazil. He has written for Saxophone Journal, has served as Executive Board Member and Jazz Coordinator for NASA, was President of the Ohio Unit of the National Association of Jazz Educators, and was on the Editorial Advisory Board for the Saxophone Symposium. He has been named “Best Jazz Musician” by Cincinnati Magazine, a “reed titan” by Midwest Jazz magazine, “technically superb and musically inventive” by the Cincinnati Enquirer, Ohio Jazz Educator of the Year by NAJE, and the “Ernest N. Glover Outstanding Teacher” by CCM students. His undergraduate studies were at the College-Conservatory of Music and Berklee College of Music, and he received his MM (Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media) from the Eastman School of Music. Many of his former students are active performers throughout the nation and others hold teaching positions at universities. Mr. VanMatre is an endorsing artist for Selmer Saxophones.

Tom Zinninger, a native of Louisville, KY has been an active performer and educator in the Kentucky-Ohio-Indiana areas for the past 10 years. His performance experience has ranged from combo and big band jazz to classical chamber and orchestral music. As a classical saxophonist, Zinninger has recently given performances at the 2011 NASA Region 5 Conference in Chicago, the 2011 Navy Band Saxophone Symposium, and the 2012 NASA national conference at Arizona State University.  He has also been featured with the Frank Simon Band based in Cincinnati, and the Chamber Winds of Louisville. As a jazz saxophonist, Zinninger has performed with the John LaBarbera Big Band and the Don Kreckel Orchestra, as well as numerous performances in a jazz duo, trio, or quartet settings. As an educator, Zinninger has worked at several Louisville and Cincinnati area schools as both a private teacher and small group instructor.

In 2006, Zinninger received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Louisville where he was a member of the Jazz Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Saxophone Quartet, and Marching Band.  While Zinninger’s primary teachers were Mike Tracy and John Moore, he also received instruction from renowned jazz educator Jamey Aebersold. In 2009, Zinninger received a Masters of Music in Jazz Studies from CCM; in December 2013, he graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in saxophone. At CCM, Zinninger performed as a member of the Jazz Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Graduate Saxophone Quartet, and Philharmonia. As a Graduate Assistant, Zinninger directed the CCM Jazz Lab Band as well as several student combos. His graduate teaching responsibilities included teaching private saxophone lessons, and instructing courses in both Jazz Improvisation and Jazz Appreciation.

You can visit Zinninger's website at tomzinninger.com