Biography

Praised for his “seamless technique” and “sumptuous lyricism” (The Philadelphia Inquirer), saxophonist Doug O’Connor was the Second Prize winner of the II International Jean-Marie Londeix Saxophone Competition in Bangkok; the prestigious prize also earned him concert engagements with the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. O’Connor also received Second Prize at the 2008 North American Saxophone Alliance Classical Solo Competition and captured the top prize at the 2007 Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Woodwind Performance Competition, the 2004 National Symphony Orchestra Young Soloists Competition, and the University of Maryland Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. He was also the divisional and overall winner of the Homer Ulrich Competition and earned prizes from the Kingsville International Young Artists Competition and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra’s Mary Graham Lasley Scholarship Competition, and is a winner of Astral Artists’ 2003 National Auditions.

Mr. O’Connor has performed across Europe and the U.S., including appearances at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall, and Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. 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. He has also given world premières of works by Baljinder Sekhon, Orie Sato, and others, and has been featured as soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra and Symphony in C. He recently gave his New York recital debut in Merkin Concert Hall.

Mr. O’Connor is a founding member of woodwind quintet REED5. He was also a founding member of the Red Line Saxophone Quartet, which captured the Gold Medal for Winds at the prestigious Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Red Line also won the Gold Medal at the IV Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition as well as the top prize at the 64th Coleman Chamber Music Plowman Chamber Music, the Music Teachers’ National Association Chamber Music, and the North American Saxophone Alliance Quartet competitions.

Upcoming engagements include performances with REED5 at Queens College and The Juilliard School, and a concerto soloist appearance with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra.

Doug O’Connor holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Saxophone Performance from the University of Maryland, where he was music director and conductor of its Philharmonia Ensemble chamber orchestra. He earned a Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, where he is currently pursuing a doctoral degree. At Eastman he has performed with the Eastman Wind Ensemble and coached the undergraduate saxophone quartet program. Mr. O’Connor recently joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Doug O’Connor is an Astral artist.

www.DougOConnor.com

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AUGUST 2011 (Please destroy any previously dated material.)