Xin Gao

FEATURED ARTIST COORDINATOR
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​Xin Gao, hails from Chengdu, China, currently serves as assistant professor of saxophone and music theory at Truman State University. Prior to this, He taught at East Tennessee State University, Furman University and Georgia State University. Some of his accomplishments include national and international recognition at major world competitions, including first place at the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) National Young Artist Competition in 2011, finalist at the International Saxophone Symposium and Competition (ISSAC) in 2014, and twice semi-finalist at the International Jean-Marie Londeix Saxophone Competition in 2008 and 2014. With the chamber group QuadrAtomic Saxophone quartet, he reached the finals of both the Fischoff and Coleman competitions, and the group was awarded the Coleman-Saunderson Prize. 
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He has performed as a soloist with orchestras and in recitals across the North America as well as Asia. He has toured China as a performer and also given performances and master classes throughout U.S. He has performed concertos with the UNCG Orchestra, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville Orchestra, University of Illinois - Chicago Wind Ensemble, Truman State University Wind Symphony and the Duquesne Orchestra in the U.S. and the Sichuan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra in China. He also frequently performs lecture recitals at national and international conferences, such as the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) and the Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium. He was one of the featured guest artists at 2019 Lanzhou International Sax and Clarinet Art Festival. As a chamber musician, his experience with the Sirocco Reed Quintet, New Century Saxophone Quartet, QuadATOMIC Saxophone Quartet, and Road of Creativity (ROC) ensemble have all played major roles in forming his musical identity. 

Furthermore, Gao is passionate about new music and has commissioned new pieces from world-renowned composers such as Sherwood Shaffer, Marc Mellits, David Maslanka and Leilei Tian, and he has collaborated directly with young composers such as Wei Dai in his efforts to bring Chinese music to a wider audience. 

Gao has received D.M.A. from UNCG, MM and BM from Duquesne University. He studied with Steve Stusek, Connie Frigo, James Houlik, Kelly Burke, Anthony Taylor, Zhenglong Xiang and Yusheng Li.​​