Distinguished Saxophone Teachers |
Daniel Deffayet – Paris Conservatory
Joseph Allard – Manhattan School of Music
Harvey Pittel – California State University at Fullerton
Ray Pizzi – Hollywood Studio Saxophonist |
Academic Credentials |
- Doctor of Musical Arts, Conducting, University of Connecticut
- Master of Music in Saxophone Performance, Manhattan School of Music
- Master of Music, Wind Ensemble Conducting, New England Conservatory of Music
- Bachelor of Music, California State University
- Diploma, Academié d’été, Nice, France
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Teaching Area |
Saxophone; Orchestra, Chamber Music; Wind Ensemble, Music History, Music Appreciation, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz History and Woodwind Methods |
Profile |
Brian Sparks is a saxophone soloist of international distinction whose venues include the American Academy in Rome, the Manoel Theatre in Valetta, Malta, the Instituto de Bellas Artes in Morellia, Mexico, Ali Shingu in Octovalo, Ecuador and Octobersky Hall, St. Petersburg, Russia.
He has performed with the New York Pops, the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, Rhode Island Philharmonic, and as soloist with the Peabody Conservatory of Music Wind Orchestra, performing Ed Miller’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone. A native of California, he has served on the faculty of the University of California at Irvine, Chapman University, Loma Linda University, East Los Angeles College, and San Bernardino Community College.
Former Principal Saxophonist and soloist with the United States Coast Guard Band and West Point Band, Dr. Sparks is now with the New Haven Wind Symphony, the Mostly East Coast Saxophone Quartet and has appeared at the Seventh World Saxophone Congress in Chicago and the Ninth World Saxophone Congress in Baltimore, Maryland. He has also played recitals at four International Saxophone Symposia in Washington D.C. and recently released a new CD, Wind Voyages, with pianist Joe Parillo and keyboardist Robert Fields.
Dr. Sparks is now Music Director of the Hartford Festival Orchestra and Singers,Ocean State Winds (no Strings attached) and has served as Conductor of the Garden Grove Chamber Orchestra, U. S. Coast Guard Band Chamber Players, Director of Wind Ensembles at Chapman University, and Director of Bands and Orchestras at East Los Angeles College. He has studied conducting with Jeffrey Renshaw of the University of Connecticut, Frank Battisti at the New England Conservatory of Music, James Rives Jones of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Alberto Bolet of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Sparks received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Connecticut. Currently, he is on the faculty at Brown University and the University of Rhode Island. |
