TIM McAllISTER
Soprano saxophonist with the renowned PRISM Quartet and acclaimed soloist, Timothy McAllister is one of America’s leading classical saxophone performers. His career has taken him throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, The Netherlands, France, Belgium, and Switzerland, garnering prizes at national and international competitions and solo appearances in major venues. He has premiered over 100 new works by the most eminent and emerging composers including solo and chamber music by Gunther Schuller, Steven Mackey, William Bolcom, Lee Hyla, Chen Yi, Libby Larsen, John Harbison, Jennifer Higdon, Frank Ticheli, James Primosch, Brian Fennelly, Caleb Burhans, Ken Ueno, Kati Agocs, Evan Chambers, Kristin Kuster, Roshanne Etezady, Martin Bresnick, and Bernard Rands among many others.
Recognized for his “virtuoso artistry” (The Saxophone Symposium), “impeccable musicianship” (American Record Guide), and “beautifully rounded tone” (The Ann Arbor News), McAllister’s critically acclaimed recordings appear on the Naxos, Einstein, Albany, Summit, Equilibrium, Centaur, G.I.A. Publications, AUR and Innova labels. Mark Stryker of the Detroit Free Press ranked his solo albums among the best classical saxophone recordings, and current recording projects include the chamber works of Heitor Villa-Lobos, a fourth solo disc, and concurrent CD and DVD productions of the works of composer/multi-media artist Jacob ter Veldhuis with the PRISM Quartet and the Miro Dance Theatre. He has recently been featured on NPR’s “Performance Today”, Dutch National Radio, Chamber Music Minnesota’s televised “Music da Camera” series, WNIT’s “Open Studio”, WNYC’s “Soundcheck” hosted by Jonathan Schaefer, WHYY Philadelphia, Nashville Public Radio and various local and regional PBS affiliates.
Grand Prize Winner in the 2001 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition with the Ninth Circle Saxophone Quartet, McAllister has appeared with many acclaimed chamber ensembles, and is a co-founder of the contemporary music group QUORUM. He has performed as soloist or member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, New World Symphony, Hot Springs Festival Orchestra, Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, Ann Arbor Symphony, Orchestra of Northern New York, Royal Band of the Belgian Air Force, Albany Symphony, Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble, and recently as co-soloist with the PRISM Quartet with the Jacksonville, Columbus (OH), Augusta (GA), and Nashville symphony orchestras. With PRISM he has appeared on chamber music series nationwide, as well as repeat performances in venues throughout Philadelphia and New York City, including the Trinity Center, Painted Bride Arts Center, Whitney Museum, Merkin Hall, Symphony Space, Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall among others.
Described by noted author Michael Segell as “exceptionally gifted…one of America’s bright young stars in teaching and performing”, McAllister serves as Professor of Saxophone at The University of Arizona School of Music. In addition, he spends his summers on the faculty of the Interlochen Center for the Arts. He has given clinics and recitals at many of the nation's elite universities and conservatories, and in 2003 presented a residency at the famed Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris.
On August 3, 2007 Timothy McAllister will perform in the Cabrillo Festival's World Premiere of Jennifer Higdon's Soprano Sax Concerto.
He holds the prestigious Albert A. Stanley Medal and the Doctor of Musical Arts from The University of Michigan where he studied saxophone with Donald Sinta and conducting with H. Robert Reynolds. He has been honored with the Paul C. Boylan Award from the Michigan School of Music Alumni Society for his significant contributions to the field of music.
Timothy McAllister is a Conn-Selmer clinician and RICO Gold Artist, and plays Selmer (Paris) saxophones exclusively.