2026-2026 Music Department Season
UW Music brass faculty Daniel Watt, accompanied by collaborative pianist Dr. Jiwon Han, presents a diverse program of music for tenor and bass trombones and euphonium on Wednesday, September 3, at 7:30 p.m. in the BCPA Recital Hall.
The program features “Rapsodia Borealis” by Søren Hyldgaard, “Etoile des Profondeurs” by Jérôme Naulai, and “The Green Hill” by Bert Appermont, culminates in a brand-new work by Nicola Ferro, “Arise.”
Colorado native Daniel Watt is an active freelance musician across the Front Range. Watt serves as principal trombonist with the Fort Collins Symphony, the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, and the Steamboat Springs Orchestra, and is second trombonist with the Cheyenne Symphony. Hre att joined the faculty of the University of Wyoming in 2016 as instructor of trombone and euphonium and maintains a private studio.
Jazz fans are invited to an extraordinary evening featuring two of the jazz world's most dynamic trombonists, Steve Davis and Darren Kramer, on Thursday, September 4, at 7:30 p.m. in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts.
The performance will celebrate the music and legacy of the iconic trombone duo J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding.
Davis and Kramer will be accompanied by a powerhouse rhythm section featuring pianist Ben Markley, bassist Matt Smiley, and drummer Andy Wheelock.
Known for his lyrical, hard-swinging sound, Steve Davis first gained wide recognition in the 1990s with legendary bands led by Art Blakey, Jackie McLean, and Chick Corea. A multiple-time Downbeat award winner, Davis has since established himself as one of the leading improvisers on the trombone.
Denver-based professional trombonist, composer, educator, music producer, and motivational speaker Darren Kramer is known for his energetic and technically brilliant approach, versatility, and innovative projects.
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Join the University of Wyoming Department of Music in welcoming the Factory Seconds Brass Trio for a FREE concert! Established in 2013, the Factory Seconds Brass Trio consists of Jack Sutte, trumpet, Richard King, horn (UW performance), and Richard Stout, trombone. The trio features musicians from the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra, who are also faculty members at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory, and brings a distinctive voice into brass chamber music. Known for their creative transcriptions of early music and active collaboration with contemporary composers, the trio offers a program at UW ranging from 12th century compositions to present-day works. |
Join us for a guest artist recital featuring Sarah Coburn, soprano, with Theresa Bogard, piano!
Coburn, a coloratura singer with a "silvery, resonant soprano" voice, will present a program of music by Rossini, Bellini, Rachmaninoff, Marx, Strauss, and Charles Gabriel, as well as traditional American Spirituals (arr. by Moses Hogan).
Oklahoma-native Sarah Coburn is a celebrated operatic soprano known for her bel canto roles in works by Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti. She has performed on many of the world's great stages, including the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna State Opera, and Welsh National Opera, and originated roles in world premieres like Tan Dun's The First Emperor and David Carlson's Anna Karenina. Coburn is a recipient of numerous awards and was a National Grand Finalist at the 2001 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Her extensive career includes both opera and concert performances.
American pianist and Steinway artist Theresa Bogard is known for her diverse repertoire, which includes works by lesser-known and women composers. A Fulbright scholar and top prizewinner in the International Mozart Fortepiano Competition, she is also a professor at the University of Wyoming.
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Conducted by Dr. Brian C. Murray and ft. Soyeon Kang, piano UW Music is hosting the Wyoming American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Fall Conference September 19 and 20, which is open to all choral musicians, including K-12 and collegiate directors, church musicians, community choir directors, and future music educators. The conference will feature sessions on conducting and teaching and masterclasses and a recital by soprano Sarah Coburn. Culminating the 2025 conference is a free, public performance of the Wyoming Chorale, an ensemble comprised of conference participants. The concert will feature a program of choral music by Rosephanye Powell, Elaine Hagenberg, Susan LaBarr, André J. Thomas, Samuel Barber, and Rollo Dilworth. |
Experience the electrifying "Music is the Best" multimedia concert featuring percussionist Von Hansen at the University of Wyoming on Monday, September 22.
"Music is the Best" is a heartfelt tribute to Hansen’s father, who introduced Hansen to the boundary-pushing work of musician Frank Zappa. Using Zappa's legacy as a narrative bridge, Hansen takes the audience on a journey through his musical identity and the development of his own distinct style as a composer and performer. The program features the titular track from Hansen's debut album, “Mortal Coil,” which was written in honor of his father.
Hansen is a performer, composer, and multi-media artist who seeks to bring joy and thought through engaging musical experiences. His musical style is a synthesis of the hip-hop, jazz, rock, and electronic music melded with minimalism and experimental music. Using drums, percussion, and computer processing, Hansen creates music that grooves hard in unusual beats.
Also a faculty member at Washburn University, Hansen is committed to increasing educational opportunities for percussionists and is active with the Percussive Arts Society. He has presented concerts and masterclasses at various universities and conferences including The Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Electronic Music Midwest, The Kansas City Electronic Music Alliance, The Kansas and Oklahoma Days of Percussion, The National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy and SEAMUS.
UW Wind Symphony, directed by Dr. Matthew Schlomer, celebrates the power of music to unite across centuries, cultures, and continents with its concert, "Festivals and Meditations."
The concert opens with Kathryn Salfelder's evocative “Cathedrals,” a work that uses sound to explore architectural spaces and their spiritual weight. The performance continues with Vincent Persichetti's monumental “Symphony for Band, Symphony no. 6,” a pillar of the wind band repertoire that pushes the boundaries of the medium with its expressive depth. Adding a contemporary flair to the evening is John Adams's energetic work “Lollapalooza” (arr. by James Spinazzola), a nod to the iconic music festival that demonstrates how modern music continues the tradition of festival celebrations. The journey through time and place continues with John Philip Sousa's classic march, “Nobles of the Mystic Shrine” (ed.by Frederick Fennell), which connects audiences to the rich history of American band music, reflecting traditions passed down through generations. The program also features a reflective interlude with Leonard Bernstein's "A Simple Song," (arr. by Sweeney), offering a moment of quiet meditation. The evening concludes with Jeff Tyzik's vibrant “Three Latin Dances,” a fiery and rhythmic work that transports listeners to another continent and celebrates the festive spirit of global music.
UW Jazz Studies is proud to present prominent jazz bassist and composer Dan Loomis for a special performance of his innovative work, “Job’s Trials: A Jazz Song Cycle.” The concert is free and open to all. Seating is limited.
“Job’s Trials” is an evocative musical dive into an ancient, universal story exploring why bad things happen to good people, recasting the biblical story of Job as a powerful parable of righteous resistance. Written as a jazz oratorio, “Job’s Trials” combines elements of blues, modern jazz, and art song, amplified by theatrical narration, to create a unique artistic experience.
With more than a decade of performing experience in New York City, Loomis is an in-demand jazz bassist, composer, and bandleader known for his forceful and creative playing. He has appeared on nearly a dozen recordings with the Dan Loomis Quartet and with bands he co-leads, including the acclaimed collectives The Wee Trio and SPOKE. A prolific composer, he has written several commissioned works. As a sideman, Loomis has played in all of New York’s major clubs and at Jazz at Lincoln Center, in addition to appearing on stages across Europe, Canada, Australia, China, and throughout the United States. Loomis is also a popular teacher and clinician, having spent more than a decade working with students across the United States, Canada and Australia.
Acclaimed saxophonist, composer, and educator Adam Larson joins the Wyoming Jazz Ensemble in concert on Thursday, October 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall.
The program will feature works by Michael Brecker, Adam Larson, Bob Mintzer, Vincent Youmans, and John Coltrane
Praised for his "prodigious" talent (Chicago Tribune), Adam Larson is a fixture in the modern jazz scene. An alumnus of the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, Larson was part of the vibrant NYC jazz scene for 11 years before relocating to the Kansas City, where he now teaches. Larson actively performs and tours, both as a band leader and sought-after sideman, and has recorded nine albums to date.
Directed by Dr. Andy Wheelock, the Wyoming Jazz Ensemble is the University of Wyoming's premier big band, offering students opportunities to perform a wide variety of jazz music and collaborate with renowned guest artists.
Is there a symphony as popular as Dvořák’s New World?
If you know this piece, come experience it again. If you don’t, you have got to hear it. This UW Symphony season-opening performance is Thursday, October 9, at 7:30 p.m. in the Buchanan Center Concert Hall.
Why is the music so popular? Dvořák left Prague and settled in New York from 1892 to 1895. He immersed himself in what he considered American folk music. His goal? Creating classical music with a truly American flair. His success is obvious: the Symphony No. 9, From the New World, and the American String Quartet. Whether the melodies are more American than Bohemian can be argued, but they are certainly folk-like. And his symphonic treatment is absolutely unsurpassed.
What do you program with such a blockbuster? Since New World refers to all the Americas, UWSO Music Director Michael Griffith chose works by a Mexican and a Brazilian: Arturo Márquez’ Danzón No. 2 and the Guitar Concerto by Heitor Villa-Lobos.
Inspired by Cuban and Mexican danzón salon dances, Danzón is fun and electrifying. Márquez’ father was a mariachi musician, and you’ll hear a bit of that influence, too – especially in some of the trumpet writing. Find it on YouTube, in an incredible performance with Gustavo Dudamel leading the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela.
When Dr. Griffith last conducted in Goiânia, Brazil—his third trip there—he met the classical guitarist Eduardo Meirinhos. One thing they discussed about was his love of the Villa-Lobos concerto. It’s a fascinating piece, and the UWSO is so happy to bring to you. And if you enjoy Dr. Meirinhos performance of the concerto, he’s also offering a free solo recital on Sunday the 12th at 3:00. We don’t hear much classical guitar in Laramie, so don’t miss that opportunity!
Tickets are available online, by phone at 307-766-6666, or at the BCPA Box Office. UWSO’s opening night fall concert often is very full, so don’t wait to get your From the New World tickets. The 10/12 recital is free.
South Korean bass trombonist Minhwan Lee, lecturer at the Korea National University of Arts and former member of the Macau Orchestra, presents an exciting program immediately followed by a masterclass.
PROGRAM
Ernst Sachse - Concertino for bass trombone and piano 12
Alexander Lebedev - Concertantes Allegro for bass trombone and piano 7
Ricardo Molla - The Overton Window for bass trombone and piano 5
Nicole Piunno - In the Secret Places for Tenor Trombone, Bass Trombone and Piano 10
with Drew Leslie, tenor trombone
Steven Verhelst - Danzone for bass trombone and piano 12
Stephen Bulla - Rhapsody for bass trombone and piano 7
UW Choirs proudly present “WyoSING!” a concert celebrating the power of choral music across generations and genres, on Thursday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall.
This choral showcase features six outstanding ensembles and a diverse program highlighting both classic and contemporary works — including a world premiere and a Wyoming premiere.
The evening opens with the UW Collegiate Chorale, conducted by Dr. Brian C. Murray and Meghan Goodner, performing Moses Hogan’s “I Can Tell the World,” Timothy Takach’s “Things Worth Praising,” and Reginal Wright’s “Do Not Pass Me By.”
Following, the treble choir Bel Canto, led by Dr. O’Neil Jones, brings an ethereal touch with selections from Gustav Holst’s “Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda” and Christopher Aspaas’ “Spirit of Life.”
The Laramie Children’s Chorus, directed by Beth Kean and Allison Murray, will charm audiences with vibrant folk and pop arrangements, including “Funga Alafia” (arr. Jill Gallina), “Tongo” (arr. Greg Gilpin) and “Here Comes the Sun” by George Harrison (arr. Matt and Adam Podd).
The Singing Statesmen, under Dr. Murray, offer moving performances of “The Quest Unending” and Reginal Wright’s “Abide with Me.”
Crowd favorites, the Happy Jacks, return with energetic renditions of Elton John’s “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” (arr. Huff) and “Don’t Stop the Music” (arr. Boyer, Brahm, and Sharon), featuring soloists Jeffrey Cuevas and Catcher Pannell.
The evening continues with the Laramie Civic Chorus, conducted by Dr. Jones, who will present the Wyoming premiere of Reginald Wright’s “Alchemy” and other inspiring works.
The concert concludes with the combined UW Choirs, conducted by Dr. Murray, performing the world premiere of “Imagined Corners” by Reginal Wright.
Pianists include Bryn Catlin, Renato da Silva, Luciano Filizola, Alisson Garcia, and Michael Lechner.
ABOUT REGINAL WRIGHT Reginal Wright is a renowned composer, conductor, and educator whose compositions blend melody, rhythm, and text into powerful musical narratives that engage both performers and listeners. An accomplished composer, his works are performed widely and cater to choirs of all levels—from beginning ensembles to advanced collegiate and professional groups. With over 25 years of experience, he has received numerous awards for his work in middle and high school education. As a conductor, he fosters collaboration and artistry in choirs of all levels, helping them reach their full potential. Learn more at ReginalWright.com.
Classical guitarist Eduardo Meirinhos is a professor in the Escola de Música e Artes Cênicas at the Universidade Federal de Goias, Brazil where he teaches guitar, guitar literature and chamber music. He was the Director of the School between 2007-2010, and he is actually again the director since 2019, in the second term consecutively.
He has given concerts in South America, Europe and the United States, participating in several music festivals as both teacher and performer. These include: Festival de Musica de Londrina, Festival de Inverno de Campos do Jordão, Seminario de Musica de Montenegro, Curso de Verão de Brasília, and Festival de Vale Vêneto. In 1997 he recorded the CD Radames Gnattali, Sonatas e Sonatinas and in 1998 participated in the live recording of the Festival de Musica de Londrina, which was also made into a CD. In 2007 he released his solo CD Eduardo Meirinhos em Recital. Most recently he released is his new CD Sonatas by Eduardo Meirinhos.
In Hannover, Germany 1989, Eduardo had the honor of performing in the world premiere of Greek composer Nikos Platirrachos’ Lisistrati, for violin, viola, clarinet and cello, in which the guitar is featured as a solo instrument. He has also premiered performances of Laudate Dominae, Toada Triste, Um Tranquilo Entardecer, Cantiga de Ninar by Siegfried Schmidt and instigated the first Brazilian performance of Variations sur un Thème de Django Reinhardt by Leo Brouwer.
Eduardo musical education began in São Paulo, Brazil, at the Conservatório Dramático e Musical de São Paulo. He obtained the undergraduate degree at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hannover (Germany). When he returned to São Paulo in 1994 he joined the graduate program in the Departamento de Música at the Universidade de São Paulo, where he stayed until 1997 obtaining the master degree in musicology. Most recently in 2002 he took his Doctoral degree at Florida State University.
Acclaimed flutist Erika Boysen joins University of Wyoming Department of Music piano faculty Dr. Jiwon Han in a recital designed to invite listeners to consider how repertoire choices can shape connection, conversation, and change.
The recital will be held Wednesday, October 15 at 7:30 p.m. in Buchanan Center for Performing Arts Recital Hall. This performance, made possible through Department of Music guest artist funds and designed in conjunction with this year’s Shepard Symposium on Social Justice, is free and open to the public.
The program, entitled “Your program, your platform,” centers around a crucial question for today’s artists: what responsibilities do musicians carry when choosing which program to perform? Boysen’s selections, which feature composers as varied as the historically-significant J.S. Bach to contemporaries from America (Valerie Coleman, Allison Loggins-Hull, Eugénie R. Rocherolle), the Netherlands (Herman Beeftink) and Slovenia (Blaž Pucihar), reflect on traditional models of recital construction while raising questions about representation, relevance, and the balance between honoring the past and engaging with the present.
Dr. Erika Boysen is an internationally-recognized flutist, interdisciplinary artist, and educator whose work redefines the traditional boundaries of classical performance. Blending movement, music, and storytelling, she is known not only for her virtuosic artistry but also for her belief in the transformative power of performance to tell stories, build community, and inspire change.
Boysen currently serves as Associate Professor of Flute at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where her teaching and performing are grounded in a conviction that music is a catalyst for connection. Boysen has performed and taught with this conviction across Asia, Canada, Central America, Europe, and throughout the United States.
Dr. Jiwon Han joined the faculty at the University of Wyoming in 2022 and currently serves as Visiting Assistant Professor of piano. Han holds two Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano from Michigan State University, an Artist Diploma from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (where he was awarded the Art of the Piano Foundation Award Scholarship), and both Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from the Korea National University of Arts.
Dr. Han has garnered widespread acclaim through numerous national and international competitions. His discography includes two solo albums, Debut and Romanticism, along with two collaborative recordings: Bach-Schubert, a live performance with violinist Zia Shin, and Works by German Composers with violinist Fangting Chen.
UW Collegiate Chorale and Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Brian C. Murray, present a collaborative concert exploring themes of resilience and renewal. The concert’s centerpiece is Takach’s multi-movement oratorio for choir and strings, “We Are Phoenix.” The piece uses poetry from multiple authors to draw a powerful comparison between the Earth's constant cycle of destruction and renewal and the human capacity to overcome hardship and rise again, stronger than before.
The concert also highlights two stunning musical settings of John Donne's Divine Sonnet VII, a vivid depiction of the Last Judgment that creates a timeless and profound reflection on life and death. First is Williametta Spencer’s 1968 work "At the Round Earth's Imagined Corners,” followed by Reginal Wright’s powerful new choral work “Imagined Corners,” which was commissioned by the UW Choirs and will include the composer in attendance.
Complementing this theme and concluding the program is Moses Hogan's joyful and dynamic arrangement of the African American spiritual, “I Can Tell the World,” known for its vibrant harmonies and rhythmic intensity.
Complementing this theme is Moses Hogan’s dynamic and joyful arrangement of the spiritual “I Can Tell the World,”
The University of Wyoming Collegiate Chorale is the premier mixed choral ensemble at UW. The University of Wyoming Chamber Orchestra features some of UW's most advanced string players, performing a diverse repertoire from Baroque to contemporary music.
Don’t miss this evening of inspiring music celebrating the strength of the human spirit!
UW Music presents a collaborative concert featuring the UW Wind Symphony Chamber Winds and Percussion Ensemble in an evening of diverse and engaging chamber music.
The Chamber Winds, conducted by Dr. Matthew Schlomer, will present a woodwind quintet performing A. Normand’s lively “Quintette (Mi majeur)” and a flute trio playing Allan Blank’s “Three Graces.” Audiences will also enjoy the compelling Flute-Clarinet Duet, “Beneath a Canopy of Wings,” by Ellen Ruth Harrison and a rich arrangement of J.S. Bach’s “Fugue in G Minor,” performed by a saxophone quartet.
Under the direction of Dr. Andy Wheelock and Brent Church, the Percussion Ensemble will deliver a powerful and dynamic performance, including Ivan Trevino’s “Gardens,” Michael Colgrass’s “Three Brothers,” and David Skidmore’s powerful work “Donner.”
The Brass Ensemble, also conducted by Dr. Matthew Schlomer, will close out the concert with a performance of “A Requiem in our Time” by Einojuhani Rautavaara and “Someone to Watch Over Me” by George Gershwin (arr. Eric Crees; transcribed Jeremy Van Hoy).
International artist, conductor, educator and UW Director of Bands, Dr. Matthew Schlomer is celebrated for his unique approach to concert programming and cross-disciplinary collaborations. A versatile musician with a background as a saxophonist, composer, and visual artist, Schlomer is also an advocate for new music, regularly commissioning works that blend different art forms.
Dr. Andy Wheelock is a drummer, percussionist, and educator who serves as UW Director of Jazz Studies and Percussion Area Coordinator. An active jazz performer and composer, he leads the WHEE3TRIO and has collaborated with numerous notable artists. Wheelock's music is known for blending jazz with Afro-Latin, West African, and pop influences.
Brent Church is a UW Music Technology student who blends classical repertoire with electronic music. A percussionist, he has performed solo recitals and released an EP.
Join the Singing Statesmen and Happy Jacks along with over 140 singers from Wyoming and Nebraska for this celebration of tenor/bass singing!
Program
Happy Jacks
“Ragtime Cowboy Joe” Muir & Abrahams, arr. Murray
“Someone Like You” Bricusse & Wildhorn, arr. Huff
“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” John & Rice, arr. Huff
Jeffrey Cuevas, soloist
“Don’t Stop the Music” arr. Boyer, Brahm, & Sharon
Catcher Pannell, soloist
Laramie Middle School Bass Choir
Kathryn Harding, conductor
Loree Cox, piano
“Hi-Up for Barbary” Dave & Jean Perry
Cheyenne East High School
LaDonna Backman, director
“Tee Idle Dum Dum” Barbershop Harmony Society
Laramie High School Andante Bass Choir
Beth Kean, conductor
Loree Cox, piano
“The Wellerman” (Australian Sea Shanty) arr. Lisa Benincasa
Singing Statesmen
Dr. Brian C. Murray, conductor
Luciano Filizola, piano
“Think on Me” Victor C. Johnson
“Abide with Me” Reginal Wright
“The Quest Unending” Joseph Martin
Combined Choirs
Dr. Brian C. Murray, conductor
Luciano Filizola, piano
“Pete, Pete” Victor C. Johnson
UW Music presents acclaimed pianist Dr. Kara Huber in a special recital featuring the complete solo piano works of Pulitzer Prize and multiple GRAMMY® Award-winning American composer Joan Tower.
The recital, entitled “From Twelve-Tone Crowd to Risk-Taker,” offers a chronological journey through Tower's repertoire, highlighting her progression from a rigorous serialist to a composer with a more accessible and colorful voice.
The performance will trace Tower's compositional arc, from her early twelve-tone pieces influenced by composers like Stravinsky to her more lyrical and rhythmically-charged later works. The program will feature major multi-movement pieces such as “No Longer Very Clear” and deeply personal miniatures like “Love Letter,” a recent work dedicated to Tower's late husband.
Huber's insightful interpretations of Tower’s work have earned high praise from critics and the composer herself. A long-time champion of Tower’s music, Huber recently released a critically-acclaimed album of the same works.
GRAMMY®-nominated Canadian-American pianist and conductor Kara Huber is quickly establishing herself as a celebrated member of the new class of concert pianists. Hailed as “absolutely dazzling…in a word, flawless” (New York Concert Review) in her Carnegie Hall debut, Huber combines the polish and warmth of an old-school soloist with the charisma and flair of the new generation of piano virtuosi.
Huber has performed across North America, Europe, and Australia, including solo appearances at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Piano Virtuoso Series at the Canadian Opera Company, the Rising Stars Piano Series in Southampton, New York, and Steinway Series at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. An in-demand recitalist, she seeks to excite and delight diverse audiences through creative and engaging programming.
On the orchestral stage, Huber has performed with the Louisville Orchestra, San Juan Symphony, Oakville Symphony, Scarborough Philharmonic, and York Symphony Orchestra. She has worked under the baton of renowned conductors Charles Dutoit, Gerard Schwarz, Teddy Abrams, Thomas Heuser and Denis Mastromonaco, in addition to conducting and performing with the Canadian Chamber Orchestra.
Huber has received numerous prizes and awards, including the Audience Favorite Award in the Cincinnati World Piano Competition. She received training from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with Frank Weinstock and Awadagin Pratt, and at The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music with John Perry and Leon Fleisher. She holds a DMA in piano and conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and previously taught at the University of Louisville School of Music. Huber currently serves as the Marjorie Wood Drackett Chair of Piano at the Interlochen Arts Academy.
UW Jazz Studies is honored to present a special eightieth birthday concert featuring two-time GRAMMY® Award-winning jazz saxophonist Ernie Watts!
Praised as “one of the greatest living tenor saxophonists, at the top of his game" (All About Jazz), Watts will be joined by the Andy Wheelock Quartet for this milestone performance, led by UW's own Director of Jazz Studies on drums, along with a stellar ensemble of colleagues including Brad Goode, trumpet, Ben Markley, piano, and Gonzalo Teppa, bass.
Born just one day shy of the concert date, on October 23, 1945, Watts began his career at age 16 and has since become one of the most prolific and versatile saxophone players in music, whose distinctive, expressive sound has cemented his legacy in the jazz and R&B worlds.
After studying at Berklee College of Music on a scholarship, Watts joined Buddy Rich's big band and later spent two decades with Doc Severinsen's “Tonight Show” band. A "musician's musician," Watts has been featured on over 500 recordings for artists ranging from Marvin Gaye and Carole King to Frank Zappa, and his distinctive sound can be heard on film soundtracks for “Grease” and “The Color Purple.”
In the mid-1980s, Watts returned his focus to jazz as a member of Charlie Haden's Quartet West. Watts, who co-founded Flying Dolphin Records in 2004, continues to tour internationally with his own quartet, perform as a guest artist with symphonies, and conduct music workshops worldwide.
