Piano with Joseph S.

Saxophonist, composer, educator, Joseph David S. has made a name as an advocate for the saxophone in the concert hall and in his own compositions. As the son of a film composer, Joseph David S.’s compositional voice is rooted in musical storytelling told through a contemporary harmonic and aesthetic lens and is influenced by the great film and concert music composers of our time. Joseph’s music has been performed throughout the United States by such ensembles as the Donald Sinta Quartet and KC VITAs. His main teachers include Gilda Lyons, Robert Carl, Larry Alan Smith, David Macbride, and Mark Edward Lewis. A native of Southern California, Joseph has performed throughout the United States and internationally in such prestigious concert venues as Meng Concert Hall (Cal State Fullerton), Hatch Recital Hall (Eastman School of Music), He Lu Ting Concert Hall (Shanghai), and Beijing Concert Hall. His teachers include some of the most respected saxophonists in America: Carrie Koffman, Christopher Bartz, and John Hallberg. He has also participated in several national saxophone conferences working closely with highly esteemed saxophonists: Timothy McAllister, James Umble, and Marco Albonetti. Joseph’s musicianship has also earned him esteem in competitions having won first place in the MTNA Chamber Music Competition for the states of California and Connecticut, the MTNA Young Artist Competition for the state of Connecticut, and second place for the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra’s Instrumental Competition. Joseph is pursuing his Dual Master's Degree in Saxophone Performance and Composition at The Hartt School, and currently holds a Bachelor of Music degree from California State University, Fullerton. I feel that my job as a teacher is to instill a sense of passion and love for music in my students, in addition to teaching them the instrument and the rudiments of music. I also am a strong believer that the best way to grow as a musician is to perform, to play with other musicians, and to listen to as much music as one can get their hands on. My teaching style emphasizes deliberate and consistent practice schedules and a very broad and visceral understanding of music as a whole.