Doug O’Connor, a saxophonist critically acclaimed for his “seamless technique” and “sumptuous lyricism,” will join the faculty of the Peabody Conservatory as an assistant professor beginning in the 2023-24 academic year.
Passionate about sharing music that challenges audiences to explore, connect, and grow, saxophonist Doug O’Connor performs music from all eras and in many styles, including classical, contemporary, jazz, and electronic. He strives to champion new works, present adventurous and innovative chamber music, and perform with an improvisatory command of music from Bach to Coltrane. O’Connor honed his artistic mission while performing on the Astral Artists roster from 2003 to 2013 and completing his training at the Eastman School of Music, where he earned his MM and DMA degrees in 2008 and 2012. He has served as a saxophonist with the United States Naval Academy Band, and since 2016 as a saxophonist with the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” (TUSAB). He is proud to be a co-founder of the Global Premiere Consortium Commissioning Project, the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Chamber Music at TUSAB, and alto saxophonist with chamber music ensemble Project Fusion Saxophone Quartet. O’Connor has taught at the Eastman School of Music and at the University of Wisconsin in Eau Claire.
At Peabody, O’Connor joins a distinguished faculty of world-class performers, teachers, and thought leaders at the forefront of the local, national, and international arts communities. He succeeds longtime faculty artist Gary Louie, who will retire at the end of the 2022-23 academic year after 30 years teaching a generation of saxophonists.
