Young is an active recording engineer, producer, saxophonist, and teacher based in Cleveland, Ohio. Recent positions include lead engineer at the National Repertory Orchestra (2023), engineer and producer on an album by pianist Chen Wang released on Ivory Classics (2023) and co-producer for Branford Marsalis and the Virginia Symphony through Arts Laureate (2021). Young holds the baritone saxophone chair of the multi-award winning saxophone quartet Sound Session.
Saxophone &
Engineering
Dr. Tyler Young (Michigan State University, 2023) is a saxophonist, educator, and acoustic audio engineer based in Cleveland, Ohio.
After finding the saxophone at the age of 12, Young performed and competed throughout his home of Moore County, North Carolina, placing in regional bands, jazz ensembles, and locally performing in his own funk group, ‘304’s Jazz’. At the age of 17 Young relocated to Greensboro, North Carolina to study saxophone performance at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with Steven Stusek. Young found himself traveling for school yet again, as he studied with Patrick Meighan at Florida State University, completing his undergraduate tenure in 2017. The saxophone led him north to Michigan State University, where for six years he planted roots to teach as a graduate assistant of MSU, perform, and record acoustic music.
From 2019 to 2023, Young was the visiting Professor of Saxophone at Alma College in Alma, Michigan, where he provided weekly saxophone lessons to music majors and minors, mentored undergraduate music students in their careers, and lectured on chamber music performing and pedagogy. Young taught an entrepreneurship specific course entitled ‘Career Skills for Musicians,’ which aimed at helping students identify and utilize their strengths in creating their own path to musical success.
As a chamber music specialist, Young has performed in over ten saxophone quartets, finding local, national, and international competitive success. In their 2022-2023 season, his saxophone quartet. Sound Session placed first in the MTNA Chamber Music Wind Competition, the North American Saxophone Alliance Chamber Music Competition, the Barbara Wagner Chamber Music Competition, and the NOLA Chamber Fest Competition. In 2023, the ensemble was recognized by the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition throughthe “Lift Every Voice” award, an honor given to ensembles that promote underrepresented compositions.
Since 2015, Young has also been a member of the Third Stream Duo, an ensemble specializing in new music and classical improvisation. 3S2 has toured frequently throughout the Eastern US, recorded an EP of all original improvisations in 2017, and given improvisation masterclasses at Florida State University and Michigan State University. In 2021, the Third Stream duo completed a year-long Artist in Residency Program at the Fine Arts Association near Cleveland, Ohio, performing recitals, outreach to local high schools, and improvisation masterclasses. Since 2019, The duo owns and operates New Music Festival of The Pines, a new music and improvisation festival geared towards high school and collegiate musicians located in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Alongside adult classes on improvisation and composition, the grant-supported festival garnered attendance from four local high schools and culminated in a student concert where the improvisation skills they learned during their stay were displayed.
Young is an active recording engineer, producer, and videographer. In 2023, Young was the lead audio engineer for the National Repertory Orchestra, curating over 30 recordings under the baton of JoAnn Falletta, Carl Topilow, and Michael Stern. Recent 2022 projects include engineer, producer, videographer on a solo piano album for the Californian label Ivory Classics, Producer for Branford Marsalis and the Virginia Symphony through Arts Laureate, as well as assistant engineer and producer on a choral album of SSAA ensemble ‘mirabai’ to be released on the Blue Griffin label.
Young uses Schoeps, DPA, Reso Labs, and Townsend Labs microphones. He currently uses Millennia Preamps and converters. Young uses Blackmagic Design cameras, and DaVinci Resolve and ProTools for editing and tracking.
Recording Guide
You can purchase my DMA document “The Classical Saxophonist’s Guide to Recording the Saxophone and its Chamber Variations” right here on this site. Click below for more!
Lend Me Your Ears!
Take a listen to my reel:
0:00 Zupko, In Transit. Movement I. Performed as Artist in Residence at Florida State University
4:52 Rachmaninoff, Sonata for Cello and Piano. Movement III. Performed as Artist in Residence at the Fine Arts Association in Willoughby, OH.
7:20 Swerts, Klonos. Performed at inaugural concert, New Music Festival of the Pines
9:23 Poulenc, Sonata for Oboe and Piano. Movement I. Performed as Artist in Residence at Florida State University
12:03 Improvisation with Dance. Performed as Artist in Residence at the Fine Arts Association in Willoughby, OH.
Saxophone
Pedagogy
Teaching Services
My program is designed for students who aspire not only to master the saxophone but also to excel in today’s dynamic music landscape.
Standard Literature and Performance Study: At the heart of our lessons is a strong foundation in standard saxophone literature. Students delve into the classics, exploring a range of styles and composers.
Advanced Recording Techniques: What sets my program apart is the integration of advanced recording techniques into the saxophone curriculum. In today’s music industry, proficiency in recording technology is as important as musicianship. Students will learn how to record, produce, and edit their saxophone performances using the latest software and equipment.
My mission as a teacher is to prepare students for the multifaceted challenges of the contemporary music scene. Whether aiming for a career in performance, recording, or both, students will leave with a robust skill set, ready to make their mark in the world of music.