
ATLANTA SAXOPHONE DAY
Atlanta Saxophone Day is an annual event held in September and is open to participants of all ages and skill levels. This one-day event hosts masterclasses, focus sessions, saxophone ensembles, artist and participant recitals, and exhibitors.
Each year, Atlanta Saxophone Day features a world-class guest artist. Recent guest artists include John Sampen, Chien-Kwan Lin, Claude Delangle, Frederick Hemke, and Debra Richtmeyer.

Robert Young joined the faculty of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in the fall of 2016. Dr. Young previously held teaching positions at SUNY-Potsdam’s Crane School of Music, Wichita State University, Albion College, and the Ann Arbor School for the Performing Arts. In the summers of 2007-2010 he was on the faculty of the M-Pulse Saxophone Workshop held at the University of Michigan where he taught with renowned professor, Donald Sinta.
As an active soloist, Young has been acclaimed for his “effortless expression and a facile technique” and his “true mastery of his instrument” (The Saxophonist Magazine). Highlights include performances with the PRISM Quartet, The Crossing, Chris Potter, Ravi Coltrane, Uri Caine, Charlotte Symphony, Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, Wichita Symphony Orchestra, Charleston (SC) Symphony Orchestra, and University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra. Robert Young performed with the PRISM Quartet on the GRAMMY Award-winning album “Gavin Bryars: The Fifth Century” (available on ECM Recordings). He has appeared as a soloist with the Zagreb Players, Wichita State University Orchestra, Wichita State University Wind Ensemble, Minot Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Michigan Concert Band.
Dr. Young has appeared in residence as a guest at several institutions across the United States; including The University of North Texas, University of Michigan, University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and Pennsylvania State University. Most recently, in the summer of 2018 Robert was invited as a featured concerto soloist in Zagreb, Croatia at the XVIII World Saxophone Congress.
Dr. Young has received numerous awards of regional, national, and international acclaim including semi-finalist at the 2009 Concert Artists Guild International Competition (NYC), silver medalist at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, 3rd Prize Winner in the North American Saxophone Alliance Quartet Competition, 1st prize of the Society of Musical Arts Competition, Winner of Tuesday Musicale of Detroit Competition, 1st Prize in the Josie Etta Daley Young Artist Competition, 3rd prize in the 2005 MTNA National Collegiate Young Artist Competition, 1st prize in the 2002 MTNA National Woodwind Competition, winner of the USC Young Artist Concerto Competition, and a finalist in the University of Michigan Concerto Competition.
Dr. Young earned his Doctor of Musical Arts (2010) and Master of Music (2008) degrees in saxophone performance from the University of Michigan where he studied with Professor Donald Sinta. At the University of Michigan, he studied jazz saxophone with Dr. Andrew Bishop and was a recipient of the Lawrence Teal Fellowship. Young received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of South Carolina (2006) in saxophone performance where he studied with Dr. Clifford Leaman.
Robert Young is a Conn-Selmer artist, and plays Selmer (Paris) saxophones exclusively. He is also endorsed by D’Addario and plays exclusively on D’Addario saxophone reeds.
Scott A. Stewart is on the instrumental music faculty as conductor of wind ensemble and orchestra at the Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Georgia, and is the Music Director and Conductor of the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony. From 1999-2013, he served as Director Wind Studies at Emory University, where he conducted the Emory Wind Ensemble and taught courses in instrumental conducting, wind band literature, and film music.
A native of Cicero, Indiana, he received a Bachelor of Music Education and a Doctor of Music in Conducting from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and a Master of Music Education from the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin. Stewart’s instructors include Ray Cramer, Stephen Pratt, David Woodley, Eugene Rousseau, Robert Duke, and Jerry Junkin.
An active saxophonist, he is a founder and a member of the Emory Saxophone Quartet, which has performed at the Rome Symphony Orchestra, the High Museum, and throughout the city. Stewart is saxophone faculty for the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University Summer Music Clinic, and has performed on American Public Media’s “Pipedreams Live” hosted by Michael Barone, with the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, and at St. Phillip’s Cathedral (Atlanta) and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (New York City) with organist David Lamb. Two recent CDs feature his playing: “Beyond the Horizon, Volume 2” with Adam Frey, euphonium; and Michael Finnerty, piano; and “Gothic Chills and Reverberating Thrills” with David Lamb.
Atlanta-based saxophonist, Brandyn Taylor, is Adjunct Professor of Saxophone at Georgia State University. In addition to mentoring a thriving private studio of students from across the metropolitan region, he is the saxophone instructor for the Atlanta Music Academy and the Principal Saxophonist of the 116th United States Army Band. He is in demand as a clinician at schools throughout the state.
He has performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Ballet, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Saxophone Quartet, Bent Frequency, Terminus Ensemble, and Chamber Cartel. In his work as an Atlanta freelancer, he has performed with Grammy Award winners Patti LaBelle, Maxwell, and Brandon Bush. Brandyn has been featured on various NPR programs broadcasted across the north and southeast including “Atlanta Music Scene”, “In a Mellow Tone”, and MIT’s “Not Brahms and Liszt”. He made his Nashville recording debut in the summer of 2014 with the band RYE. Former students have been awarded top prizes/chairs in competitions across the southeast and earned full-ride scholarships to study music at prestigious universities.Brandyn holds degrees in music performance from Columbus State University and Georgia State University. His primary teacher was Dr. Jan Berry Baker, with additional studies from Dr. Frederick Hemke, Joseph Lulloff, and Mace Hibbard. Brandyn is a Vandoren Artist-Clinician and a Conn-Selmer Performing Artist.
Registration
Kopleff Recital Hall, Georgia State University
Welcome, Warm-up, and Saxophone Choir Rehearsal
Robert Young Workshop
Lunch Break and Exhibits
Lunch included with registration
Shop our vendor tables for reeds, accessories, saxophones, music, and minor repairsArtist Recital
Guest Artist Masterclass
Saxophone Choir Rehearsal and Photo
Farewell Concert
Lunch and a t-shirt will be provided to all registered participants. All registration fees are non-refundable.
Anyone of all ages and experience levels can register to attend. All General Participants will actively rehearse and perform in the saxophone choir, participate in clinics, visit exhibitors, and observe the masterclass and guest artist recital.
We are accepting a limited number of applicants to perform in the guest artist masterclass. Masterclass participants perform solo repertoire (with piano when required) and receive a 20 minute public coaching. A staff pianist is available for an extra fee, or you may elect to bring your own pianist. All Masterclass Participants will also actively rehearse and perform in the saxophone choir, participate in clinics, visit exhibitors, and observe the guest artist recital.
For non-saxophone participants, or those only wishing to observe, we offer registration as an Auditor Participant. Auditor Participants will observe rehearsals, clinics, the guest artist recital, masterclasses, and visit exhibitors, but will not perform in the final concert.