Biography
Xin Gao, hailing from Chengdu, China, currently serves as Associate Professor of Music, Saxophone, at Truman State University. Xin Gao has previously taught at East Tennessee State University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Furman University, Georgia State University, and the North Carolina Summer Music Camp. He holds a Doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and both a Master's and a Bachelor's degree from Duquesne University. Xin Gao studied under the guidance of esteemed professors Yusheng Li, Zhenlong Xiang, Steve Stusek, Connie Frigo, and James Houlik, who have had a profound influence on his development.
In 2011, Xin Gao won the national first prize in the Woodwind Division of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Young Artist Competition. In 2014, he was a finalist in the ISSAC International Saxophone Competition, the only Asian among the six finalists. He also reached the semi-finals of the International Jean-Marie Londeix Saxophone Competition in 2008 and 2014. During his collaboration with the QuadrAtomic Saxophone Quartet, he advanced to the finals of the Fischoff and Coleman competitions, winning the Coleman Sanderson Prize. From 2016 to 2019, he served as a judge for the MTNA Tennessee State Competitions, evaluating the Woodwind and Chamber Music Young Artist divisions. In 2023, he was invited to judge the Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition in Iowa.
Xin Gao has successfully held numerous performances in the United States and Asia, including collaborations with renowned symphony orchestras and solo recitals. In 2013, he toured China and began performing and giving masterclasses at major universities in the southwestern United States. He has performed with orchestras such as the UNCG, UTK, Duquesne Symphony Orchestras, and the Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2014, he was invited to perform a saxophone concerto with the Wind Ensemble at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). He has also lectured at the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference and the U.S. Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium. In 2018, he hosted the first American Single Reed Summit (ASRS) at Truman State University, performing alongside world-class masters. In 2019, he participated as a guest artist in the Lanzhou International Clarinet and Saxophone Art Festival. In 2020, he was invited to the Shanghai Asia International Saxophone Congress and joined the ASRS Committee. In 2022, he represented the ASRS Committee in organizing the second American Single Reed Summit. In March 2023, he returned to his alma mater UNCG for a solo recital, and in June, he was invited to visit and teach a masterclass at the China Conservatory of Music. In February 2024, he performed a saxophone and euphonium concerto with the Truman State University Wind Symphony at the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) conference in Kansas City, Missouri.
In chamber music, Xin Gao founded the Sirocco Quintet, the QuadAtomic Saxophone Quartet, and the ROC Ensemble. The ROC Ensemble, composed of university professors, integrates elements of jazz, pop, and hip-hop music. Xin Gao toured and taught with the New Century Saxophone Quartet across nine states in the Midwest. As a co-founder, he and his ROC Contemporary Ensemble have been invited to give lectures at the University of Georgia and the headquarters of the Corning Company.
In addition to his personal performance achievements, Xin Gao is proud to mentor and teach many talented students who have won numerous awards and honors, including first place in the Missouri Music Teachers Association (MMTA) Collegiate Solo Competition, university concerto competitions, and the Southern Illinois Young Artist Organization (SIYAO) competitions. His graduate students have been admitted to prestigious doctoral programs and have successful careers in performance and education.
In 2016, Xin Gao published his doctoral dissertation on contemporary saxophone works titled "Annotated Bibliography: Contemporary Saxophone Works by Chinese-born Composers." He is dedicated to promoting contemporary saxophone compositions and has collaborated with and commissioned new works from notable composers, including Sherwood Shaffer, Marc Mellits, David Maslanka, Viet Cuong, Jaljinder Sekhon II, Gabriela Ortiz, Jenni Brandon, and Kenji Bunch, as well as Chinese composers Lei Lei Tian, Yunfei Li, Wei Dai, and Zechariah Goh.
Xin Gao, hailing from Chengdu, China, currently serves as Associate Professor of Music, Saxophone, at Truman State University. Xin Gao has previously taught at East Tennessee State University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Furman University, Georgia State University, and the North Carolina Summer Music Camp. He holds a Doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and both a Master's and a Bachelor's degree from Duquesne University. Xin Gao studied under the guidance of esteemed professors Yusheng Li, Zhenlong Xiang, Steve Stusek, Connie Frigo, and James Houlik, who have had a profound influence on his development.
In 2011, Xin Gao won the national first prize in the Woodwind Division of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Young Artist Competition. In 2014, he was a finalist in the ISSAC International Saxophone Competition, the only Asian among the six finalists. He also reached the semi-finals of the International Jean-Marie Londeix Saxophone Competition in 2008 and 2014. During his collaboration with the QuadrAtomic Saxophone Quartet, he advanced to the finals of the Fischoff and Coleman competitions, winning the Coleman Sanderson Prize. From 2016 to 2019, he served as a judge for the MTNA Tennessee State Competitions, evaluating the Woodwind and Chamber Music Young Artist divisions. In 2023, he was invited to judge the Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition in Iowa.
Xin Gao has successfully held numerous performances in the United States and Asia, including collaborations with renowned symphony orchestras and solo recitals. In 2013, he toured China and began performing and giving masterclasses at major universities in the southwestern United States. He has performed with orchestras such as the UNCG, UTK, Duquesne Symphony Orchestras, and the Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2014, he was invited to perform a saxophone concerto with the Wind Ensemble at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). He has also lectured at the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference and the U.S. Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium. In 2018, he hosted the first American Single Reed Summit (ASRS) at Truman State University, performing alongside world-class masters. In 2019, he participated as a guest artist in the Lanzhou International Clarinet and Saxophone Art Festival. In 2020, he was invited to the Shanghai Asia International Saxophone Congress and joined the ASRS Committee. In 2022, he represented the ASRS Committee in organizing the second American Single Reed Summit. In March 2023, he returned to his alma mater UNCG for a solo recital, and in June, he was invited to visit and teach a masterclass at the China Conservatory of Music. In February 2024, he performed a saxophone and euphonium concerto with the Truman State University Wind Symphony at the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) conference in Kansas City, Missouri.
In chamber music, Xin Gao founded the Sirocco Quintet, the QuadAtomic Saxophone Quartet, and the ROC Ensemble. The ROC Ensemble, composed of university professors, integrates elements of jazz, pop, and hip-hop music. Xin Gao toured and taught with the New Century Saxophone Quartet across nine states in the Midwest. As a co-founder, he and his ROC Contemporary Ensemble have been invited to give lectures at the University of Georgia and the headquarters of the Corning Company.
In addition to his personal performance achievements, Xin Gao is proud to mentor and teach many talented students who have won numerous awards and honors, including first place in the Missouri Music Teachers Association (MMTA) Collegiate Solo Competition, university concerto competitions, and the Southern Illinois Young Artist Organization (SIYAO) competitions. His graduate students have been admitted to prestigious doctoral programs and have successful careers in performance and education.
In 2016, Xin Gao published his doctoral dissertation on contemporary saxophone works titled "Annotated Bibliography: Contemporary Saxophone Works by Chinese-born Composers." He is dedicated to promoting contemporary saxophone compositions and has collaborated with and commissioned new works from notable composers, including Sherwood Shaffer, Marc Mellits, David Maslanka, Viet Cuong, Jaljinder Sekhon II, Gabriela Ortiz, Jenni Brandon, and Kenji Bunch, as well as Chinese composers Lei Lei Tian, Yunfei Li, Wei Dai, and Zechariah Goh.
高欣 Xin Gao
音樂藝術博士，旅美薩克斯管藝術家。現任美國杜魯門州立大學音樂系副教授，碩士生導師。曾執教於東田納西州立大學、北卡羅來納大學格林斯伯勒分校、富爾曼大學、喬治亞州立大學以及北卡音樂夏令營。博士畢業於北卡羅來納大學格林斯伯勒分校，碩士及學士畢業於杜肯大學。高欣師從李雨生教授、向振龍教授、史提夫·斯圖斯克教授、康妮·弗里歌教授和詹姆斯·霍利克教授，諸位恩師對其有著深遠的影響。
2011年，高欣榮獲全美音樂教師協會（Music Teachers National Association, MTNA）大賽木管組青年藝術家級第一名。2014年，高欣入圍國際 ISSAC 薩克斯管大賽總決賽，是六位決賽選手中唯一的亞洲選手。2008年和2014年，他先後兩度晉級“讓·瑪麗·隆戴”國際薩克斯管大賽（International Jean-Marie Londeix Saxophone Competition）半決賽。與室內樂演奏團 “QuadrAtomic” 薩克斯管四重奏樂團合作期間，他進入了菲詩霍夫（Fischoff）大賽和科爾曼（Coleman）大賽決賽，並榮獲科爾曼桑德森獎。2016年至2019年，他多次擔任全美音樂教師協會（MTNA）大賽田納西州分賽區評委，參與木管組及室內樂組青年藝術家級別比賽的評審。2023年受邀擔任愛荷華州 Ottumwa 交響樂團青年藝術家協奏曲比賽評委。
在美國及亞洲各地，高欣成功舉辦過眾多演出，包括與知名交響樂團的合作及個人演奏會。2013年，他在中國進行巡演並開始在美國西南地區各大高校演出並講授公開課。他曾與美國 UNCG、UTK 和杜肯交響樂團以及中國四川愛樂樂團等合作演出。2014年受邀與芝加哥伊利諾伊大學（UIC）管樂合奏團合作演出薩克斯管協奏曲。他也多次在北美薩克斯聯盟會議和美國國家海軍樂團國際薩克斯管會議上進行講演。2018年，他在杜魯門州立大學主辦了第一屆美國單簧樂器峰會（ASRS），並在開幕式上與世界級大師同台獻藝。2019年，他作為特邀藝術家參加蘭州國際單簧樂器藝術節。2020年受邀參加上海亞洲國際薩克斯管大會，同年加入 ASRS 委員會。2022年，他代表 ASRS 委員會承辦了第二屆美國單簧樂器峰會。2023年3月，他受邀返回母校 UNCG 舉辦個人音樂會；同年6月，應中國音樂學院邀請到校訪問並教授公開課。2024年2月，他隨杜魯門大學管樂團參加在美國 UMKC 舉辦的美國大學樂隊指揮協會（CBDNA）全國大會，並在堪薩斯城 Folly 大劇院演繹了薩克斯管與上低音號協奏曲。
在室內樂方面，高欣組建了熱風五重奏、QuadAtomic 薩克斯管四重奏和 ROC 樂團。ROC 樂團融合了爵士、流行及嘻哈音樂元素，由多所大學的教授組成。高欣曾與新世紀薩克斯管四重奏進行了美國中西部九州巡演及教學；作為創始人之一，他和 ROC 現代樂團曾受邀至喬治亞大學及康寧公司總部進行講演。
高欣不僅在個人表演上取得卓越成就，還培養了許多才華橫溢的學生，他們在密蘇里音樂教師協會（MMTA）大學生獨奏比賽、大學協奏曲比賽及南伊利諾伊州青年藝術家組織比賽（SIYAO）中屢獲佳績。他的碩士畢業生還以優異成績考入美國頂級博士生項目，並在表演與教育領域取得了成功的職業生涯。
2016年，高欣發表了關於當代薩克斯管作品的博士論文《註釋文獻：當代中國作曲家的薩克斯管作品》。他致力於推廣當代薩克斯管作品，與多位著名作曲家合作並委託創作新作品，包括謝爾伍德·夏弗、馬克·邁利茲、大衛·馬斯蘭卡、Viet Cuong、Jaljinder Sekhon II、Gabriela Ortiz、Jenni Brandon 和 Kenji Bunch，以及華人作曲家田蕾蕾、李沄霏、戴薇和吳多才等。
Equipment
Saxophone: Yamaha Custom YAS-875
Mouthpiece: Selmer Concept
Ligature: Vandoren M/O
Reeds: Vandoren / Légère Signature Series