About Doug O’Connor
A winner of Astral Artists’ 2003 National Auditions, Doug O’Connor recently captured Second Prize at the II International Jean-Marie Londeix Saxophone Competition in Bangkok. Also the Second Prize winner of the 2008 North American Saxophone Alliance Classical Solo Competition and the National 2007 First Prize winner of the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Woodwind Performance Competition, he has been a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra, and gave his New York recital debut in Merkin Concert Hall. Astral has presented his Philadelphia recital debut and featured him as soloist on a “Rising Stars” concert in the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. This season Astral presents him in a concert entitled “Saxophonist Doug O’Connor & Friends.” Mr. O’Connor has performed across Europe and the U.S., including appearances at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. He recently appeared at the XV World Saxophone Congress in Bangkok, where he gave the Asian première of Baljinder Sekhon’s Gradient, as well as the world-première performance of Christian Lauba’s 15th etude, Worksong, which was composed for him. Doug O’Connor holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Saxophone Performance from the University of Maryland. He recently earned a Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, where he is currently pursuing a doctoral degree. He performs as a member of the Red Line Saxophone Quartet, which recently won both the Gold Medal for Winds in the prestigious Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, as well as First Prize in the Plowman Chamber Music Competition, the Music Teachers’ National Association Chamber Music Competition, and the North American Saxophone Alliance Quartet Competition.
