College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean bruce d. mcclung has announced the appointment of Robert C. Young as Assistant Professor of Saxophone.
Dr. Young is a saxophonist known for his virtuosity, musicianship, and authenticity. Praised by The Saxophonist for his “effortless expression and facile technique,” Dr. Young maintains an active career as a soloist, chamber musician, and educator. He has performed and recorded with such esteemed ensembles and artists as the PRISM Quartet, The Crossing, Chris Potter, Ravi Coltrane, and Uri Caine.
A passionate chamber musician, Dr. Young appeared on the GRAMMY™-award-winning album Gavin Bryars: The Fifth Century with The Crossing and PRISM Quartet, earning praise from the New York Times for a “superb” and “eloquent” performance. He has collaborated with PRISM on albums including The Curtis Project, Heritage/Evolution- Volume 2, and The Book of Days.
As a soloist, Dr. Young’s recent concerto appearance of Guillaume Connesson’s A Kind of Trane with the Berkeley Symphony was hailed as “uncommonly expressive…and technically prodigious” (San Francisco Classical Voice). He has also performed concertos with the United States Navy Band, Rock Hill Symphony, and Zagreb Soloists (Croatia). Upcoming engagements include performances with The Florida Orchestra (2024–2025 season) and Omaha Symphony (2025–2026 season).
An experienced educator, Dr. Young currently serves as Associate Professor of Saxophone at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. His students have excelled in competitions and festivals nationwide. He previously taught at the State University of New York at Potsdam Crane School of Music and Wichita State University.
Dr. Young holds a Bachelor of Music (BM) in Saxophone Performance from the University of South Carolina, and a Master of Music (MM) and Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Saxophone Performance from the University of Michigan. A Conn-Selmer and D’Addario artist, he performs exclusively on Selmer saxophones and D’Addario reeds.
