Developing great saxophonists and wonderful humans at The University of Massachusetts Amherst.
One of the premiere saxophone programs in New England, the UMass Amherst Saxophone Class focuses on artistic excellence and personal growth in both classical and jazz styles. Led by Professors Jonathan Hulting-Cohen and Felipe Salles, students interact with both teachers and perform in ensembles from both disciplines. Graduates have earned positions as MM students at top national saxophone studios
03/31/2026
What a wonderful evening of music shared between the UMass and UConn saxophone studios! We had some tasty Antonio's Pizza Amherst before rehearsing Prof. Greg Case’s new saxophone ensemble arrangement of the intermezzo from Giménez’s La Boda de Luís Alonso WITH three amazing UMass Amherst percussion students and had a full two-hour recital of solos through quartets. Thank you for visiting us, Uconn! Hope to see you again soon.
03/12/2026
Ready for NASA! Sunday 10am Weigel Auditorium, works by Cuong, Forest, and Holst/Irizarry, the last two are UMass students! Conducted by Sarin Ritter-Raven.
03/07/2026
Among many wonderful aspects of today's symposium is the second iteration of the New England Saxophone Collective. Please join us at 5:30pm for the U.S. premiere of Lei Liang's Parallel Gardens for 24 saxophones! Conducted by UMass Amherst Department of Music and Dance's Lindsay Pope, the ensemble features faculty, professionals, and students from throughout New England.
03/06/2026
Join us tomorrow for our 43rd Annual Symposium & Competition!
01/14/2026
The UMass Amherst Saxophone Studios are excited to call for applications for our 11th Annual jazz and classical competitions! Each category has two rounds: the first via video recording and the final in person at the 43rd Annual New England Saxophone Symposium, accompanied by UMass faculty. Final prizes consist of $300 gift certificates provided by Gerry’s Music Shop.
First round submissions are due on January 26, 2026.
Interested? Find out more information at our website!
https://www.umass.edu/music-dance/events/43rd-annual-new-england-saxophone-symposium-competition
12/04/2025
Alumnus Nick Suosso sounding great on some Gershwin in Arkansas!
George Gershwin: Three Preludes | Nick Suosso, saxophone George Gershwin: Three Preludes for Saxophone and String Quintetarr. Jonah BlumNick Suosso, saxophoneA String Fort SmithLori Fay, directorhttps://www.astring...
11/20/2025
Scenes from our partial premiere of Max Wolpert’s The Nine Lives of Adolphe Sax on The Listening Room, UMass Amherst’s longstanding student-faculty Tuesday Morning Spotlight Series. The piece is fantastic, and you’ll note the studio is costumed in accordance with their movements of the work!
11/20/2025
Yesterday, the fabulous non-major quartet gave an excellent performance of the trending Kuhn Contraption. Bravi tutti, and to their excellent coach, Rémy Taghavi! It’s a great experience for the saxophonists to work with the other amazing UMass faculty.
11/19/2025
The UMass Amherst Saxophone Ensemble has been wanting to play Steven Banks, saxophone’s beautiful work, Strength to Climb, for two years now. Last week, we finally had the chance! It was a powerful, moving experience, and we are excited to be working our way through our bucket list. Thank you for creating such wonderful repertoire for our instrument!
11/19/2025
And it begins! prep of Viet Cuong‘s Electric Aroma and Jan Irizarry‘s Holst Planets medley. Conducted by Sarin Ritter-Raven (second-year masters saxophone and conducting) and Jan Irizarry (third-year music education). Soon to be joined by a world premiere of a new work by composition-saxophone masters student, Ian Sauco. Excited to get started!
11/18/2025
An impressive grad recital from Ian Sauco and his wonderful collaborators. Congratulations all! UMass Amherst Department of Music and DanceUMass AmherstCollege of Humanities & Fine Arts at UMass Amherst