Saxophone / Jazz Improvisation

Classical and jazz saxophonist Dr. Wenbo Yin, versatile and bold in his music-making, is a skillful interpreter of diverse genres (classical, jazz, contemporary, pop, beatbox saxophone). Yin's performances range from being a soloist at Carnegie Hall, ensemble player at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, to concerts with prominent jazz artists. He has been invited to host masterclasses and lectures at universities and conferences in the United States and Asia. Based in Northern California, Yin began playing the saxophone as an elementary school student in China. He obtained his BM at the Ithaca College School of Music in New York, MM, and DMA in Saxophone Performance with cognates in Jazz, and Wind Conducting at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). 

As a jazz musician, Yin recently collaborated with GRAMMY® award-nominated guitarist Alex de Grassi in duet performances for guitar and saxophone. He has also appeared in duet and combo performances with prominent jazz artists such as GRAMMY® award-winning saxophonist Charles (Chip) McNeill, world-class trombone soloist John Fedchock, and GRAMMY® award- nominated jazz vocalist Carla Cook. Yin played first alto sax in the CCM Jazz Lab Band and was the associate director of the University of Cincinnati Bearcat Jazz Band. As a chamber musician, he served as Principal Saxophone at the CCM's most prominent wind groups—CCM Wind Symphony (Wind Orchestra), CCM Wind Ensemble, and CCM Chamber Winds. He has worked with virtuoso artists and groups such as James Tocco, The United States Air Force Band Wind Quintet, Dr. Terrence Milligan, Dr. Glenn D. Price, Dr. Stephen Peterson, and Ray Cramer. As a conductor, his conducting repertoire includes works by Mozart, Stravinsky, Percy Grainger, Frank Ticheli, Roberto Molinelli, and performed by chamber orchestras and saxophone ensembles. 

Yin was selected to give a solo recital at the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Biennial Conference in 2020 and was a selected soloist at Dr. Kenneth Tse's masterclass at NASA Regional Conference in 2017 and at James Tocco's chamber music masterclass. He has also appeared as a performer in the Midwest Composers Symposium, the International Saxophone Symposium hosted by the United States Navy Band, the Essentially Ellington Festival sponsored by Wynton Marsalis Jazz at Lincoln Center, Music China in Shanghai. He premiered works such as Spencer Brewer's composition for piano and saxophone, Even William’s operatic/film/electroacoustic pieces, and Quartet for Saxophone by Brian Raphael Nabors, whose works have been featured in major symphonies and music festivals worldwide. 

Yin’s debut album, Reflection, was released in December, 2022. It features Kalyanamitra, an original electronic smooth jazz composition; Chaconne in G Minor from the Baroque period by Tomaso Vitali; the Romantic transcriptions of violin virtuoso Pagnini’s Caprice no. 24; contemporary saxophone solo composition Bab Boujloud; the saxophone premiere of the choral piece If Tomorrow Is the Next Life; and two covers of folk and cinematic music. 

As a music educator, Dr. Yin served as an associate director of the UC Jazz Band, woodwind specialist at the University of Cincinnati (UC) Marching Band, undergraduate saxophone studio teaching assistant, saxophone faculty and lecturer at the CCM Preparatory Department. He is also a member of the North American Saxophone Alliance, Music Teachers’ Association of California, and Music Teachers National Association. Yin’s mentors include Dr. James Bunte, Rick VanMatre, Craig Bailey, Dr. Scott Belck, Bill Tiberio, and Dr. Steven Mauk. Wenbo finds nature, Chan Buddhist teachings, reading classical texts, and spending time with family and friends as great guides and companions of his musical path. 

Teaching Experiences:

• Associate Director, University of Cincinnati Bearcat Jazz Band, 2022

• Undergraduate Saxophone Studio Teaching Assistant, CCM, 2020

• Woodwind Specialist, University of Cincinnati Bearcat Bands, 2021-22

• Lecturer and Saxophone Instructor, CCM Preparatory Department, 2019 - 22

Selected Awards:

• First Prize Winner, Advanced Category, Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition, 2022

• Finalist, CBS Celebration of Music Competition, 2018

• Semi-Finalist, North American Saxophone Alliance Quartet Competition, 2016

Professional Affiliations: 

• North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA)

• Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC)

• Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)

Residential

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