6. University of Minnesota School of Music – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Notable Faculty: Eugene Rosseau
A unique music school situated in the twin cities area of Minnesota, the institution offers to students one of the very greatest saxophone virtuosos, educators, and administrators, who has held a strangely large influence on the landscape on the classical saxophone pedagogy in America since 1964, when he began his position as faculty member at the University of Indiana. Well over 50 of Eugene Rosseau’s students now host selective classical saxophone studio in many of the top universities in America, and hundreds more have held teaching and performing positions in a number of institutions throughout the world. A Music Teacher’s National Association “Teacher of the Year” in 1993, Eugene Rosseau accepts only the very top students in the world into his exclusive department.
5. Eastman School of Music – Rochester, NY
Notable Faculty: Chien-Kwan Lin
An active and dedicated teacher, Chien-Kwan Lin won the Eastman School of Music’s Eisenhart Award, an accolade that recognizes the top teaching talent at the Eastman School of Music. Chien-Kwan Lin, a well-known performer who has performed saxophone solo with many of the nation’s top ensembles including the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, has also created a “conductor-less” ensemble of saxophone musicians at the Eastman School of Music called the Eastman Saxophone Project. Here is a widely circulated video below of the Eastman Saxophone Project doing a truly stellar arrangement of the Rite of Spring.
4. Indiana University Jacobs School of Music – Bloomington, IN
Notable Faculty: Otis Murphy
One of the foremost schools for classical saxophone, the Jacobs School of Music regularly produces students who take fellowships at top music festivals, such as the Aspen Music Festival. The distinguished faculty artist, Otis Murphy, was appointed his professorship at the age of 29, having already pursued a very successful career as a classical saxophonist at a young age. Students of Murphy have placed themselves into some of the foremost wind ensembles in the nation as well as into chamber ensembles of critical importance, making IU an ideal choice for a classical saxophonist.
Listen to the Faculty: Check out Otis Murphy performing on the CD entitled Song
Hello Mr. Zuckerman,
Do you know which American college was the first to offer saxophone as a degree major? Just curious! Thanks.