Steven Banks

Presented in conjunction with the UMass Department of Music and Dance’s 41st Annual New England Saxophone Festival.

Steven Banks is an ambassador for the classical saxophone who has established himself as a compelling and charismatic soloist. He is dedicated to showcasing the vast capabilities of the instrument and advocating for the expansion of the instrument’s repertoire. Winner of the prestigious 2022 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Steven is also the first saxophonist to capture First Prize at the Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions (2019). In 2022, he was chosen to join WQXR’s Artist Propulsion Lab, a program designed to advance the careers of artists and support the future of classical music. 

Steven has appeared as soloist with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Aspen Festival Orchestra, Oregon Mozart Players, Colorado Music Festival, Colorado Symphony, Utah Symphony, the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, and on subscription with the Cleveland Orchestra, performing with such conductors as John Adams, Peter Oundjian, Earl Lee, Xian Zhang, Nicholas McGegan, and Rafael Payere.

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Thank you to our season sponsors: