Brian Sacawa | Concert Saxophonist

Praised by The New York Times as "an inventive musician," "fresh and surprising," and "vividly lyrical," saxophonist Brian Sacawa (born 1977) has firmly established himself as an important contemporary voice for his instrument. A winner of awards for solo performance from both national and international competitions, his sensitivity and finesse, virtuosic flair, and cutting edge technical mastery have led to characterizations of his playing as "consistently intense and energetic . . . just sensational" ( Sequenza21 ).  

Named the Baltimore CITYPAPER’s Critic’s Choice for Classical Music in 2002 for his evocative and engaging performances of music by Luciano Berio and Karlheinz Stockhausen, Mr. Sacawa has premiered over thirty new works for saxophone by both established and emerging composers, including Philip Glass, Michael Gordon, Bright Sheng, Jo Kondo, Oliver Schneller, Beata Moon, Ken Ueno, and Hillary Zipper, among many others. Sacawa’s commitment to expanding and developing the instrument’s repertoire also impacts his desire for new music to reach and connect with new audiences, which is reflected in his efforts to reinterpret the traditional concert format.  

Mr. Sacawa’s versatile career has led to appearances with the St. Petersburg (Russia) Philharmonic, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, Bargemusic, Harvard Group for New Music, New Music Brandeis, and at important musical venues across the United States, including Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, and Columbia University’s Miller Theater. He has performed under the baton of internationally acclaimed conductors Leonard Slatkin, Yuri Temirkanov, James Conlon, and Neeme Järvi. His festival credits include performances at recent meetings of the SEAMUS National Conference, the ISU Contemporary Music Festival, World Saxophone Congress, North American Saxophone Alliance, and New England Saxophone Symposium. In addition, Mr. Sacawa has lectured at the Manhattan School of Music, New York University, the University of Michigan, and Indiana State University.  

With percussionist Timothy Feeney, Mr. Sacawa is the co-founder of the new music duo Non-Zero. In only its first season, Non-Zero has amassed a heady list of credentials, including ten world premieres, performances in New York City, Boston, Michigan, and New Hampshire, and a residency at New York University as part of NYU’s First Performance concert series.  

Mr. Sacawa holds degrees from the University of Michigan, the Peabody Conservatory, and the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, where he studied with Donald Sinta, Gary Louie, and Lynn Klock. He has recorded for the Equilibrium, NAXOS, and BiBimBop record labels.