Steven Banks, saxophone

Busy and fruitful week in Cleveland! It was a pleasure to work with my saxophone and chamber music students, as always, and to collaborate with , the orchestra, Phil Setzer (had to pinch myself a few times realizing that I was performing with someone whose quartet recordings I’ve listened to for so many years), and Carolyn Warner. Thank you also to the for inviting me to play on their beautiful benefit concert. See you soon, Cleveland!

Lovely impressions from last week with Orchestre symphonique de Montréal - OSM
📸: Antoine Saito

We’re back with another chapter of Beyond the Music: Sharing the Heartbeat Behind the Harmony! Come along as we revisit Steven Banks’ inspiring stop at Rock Island High School as part of his Come As You Are initiative. 🎵✨

Yesterday, I opened my report from Murphy Music Press, LLC to see that orders had been placed for sheet music of my pieces in 38 states and 11 countries in the last 6 months! 🤯 This trend has been growing for a few years now, and for that I would like to say THANK YOU!

I would love to do a better job of celebrating the community of musicians playing my pieces from California to Switzerland to Brazil, and beyond.

There are two ways you can get involved.
1. Go to steven-banks.com/submitperformance to let me know about your upcoming performance and I will share the details for all registered performances on my website and post them once a month on Facebook and Instagram.

2. Post your performance and practice videos, and any other promotional materials with or tag me eand I will happily share them on my page as stories or reposts.

Thank you so much again for engaging with my music, and I am excited to feature your artistry on my platforms!

PC: Angela Marie Orellana

We’re still buzzing! 🤩

This weekend’s Masterworks II: Diaspora reminded us why live music matters. Steven Banks brought the house down with an unforgettable performance, and your applause filled the concert halls with electric energy.

Thank you for being part of moments that can only happen together. Enjoy a few of our favorite photos from the weekend, and we can’t wait to see you at Masterworks III: Schumann Piano Concerto with Yefim Bronfman in December!

📸 Evan Sammons Photography

"“This piece is the most important thing I’ve ever been a part of,” Banks said of Childs’ concerto."

Thank you Quad-City Times, what a feature! 🔥 The story isn’t finished. Experience Diaspora with Steven Banks and the QCSO this weekend at Masterworks II.

Tickets still available: https://fthr-content.qcso.org/mwii-2526-fb

Saxophonist Steven Banks brings 'Come As You Are' effort to Rock Island High School "This piece is the most important thing I've ever been a part of," saxophonist Seven Banks said of Billy Childs' concerto "Diaspora," during a talk at Rock Island High School.

So excited to return to one of my favorite places on earth! My experience at UNCSA absolutely ignited a deeper level of love for music than I knew was possible at the time, and I'm thrilled to share that love with future generations of students to come through this great institution.

The graduate saxophone program at the Cleveland Institute of Music will continue, though my colleagues, Julian Velasco and Valentin Kovalev, will be taking on much larger roles. More to come...!

Steven Banks to join faculty of School of Music at UNCSA Acclaimed saxophonist, composer and alumnus Steven Banks (H.S. '11) will join the School of Music at UNCSA as saxophone faculty, beginning Aug. 1, 2026. A trailblazing artist known for his compelling musicianship and advocacy for the classical saxophone, Banks returns to his alma mater to inspire a....