About

Fueled by a deep desire to create an enthusiasm surrounding the classical saxophone, ROBERT YOUNG connects with audiences with his musicianship, virtuosity, and authenticity.  Praised for his “effortless expression and facile technique” (The Saxophonist Magazine), Robert maintains an active career as a soloist, chamber musician, and educator.  His artistry has afforded him opportunities to appear with ensembles and musicians from across the globe including the PRISM Quartet, The Crossing, Chris Potter, Ravi Coltrane, Uri Caine, Charlotte Symphony, Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, and the Charleston (SC) Symphony Orchestra. 

As a chamber musician, Robert collaborated with The Crossing and performed alongside the PRISM Quartet on the GRAMMY Award-winning album "Gavin Bryars: The Fifth Century" (available on ECM Recordings). The New York Times praised the collective performance on this album as “superb” and “eloquent”.  Young has appeared with the PRISM Quartet on numerous concerts including residencies at the Curtis Institute, Shepherd School of Music (Rice University), and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.  He can be heard on several albums with this notable ensemble including “The Curtis Project”,  “Heritage/Evolution, volume 2”, and “The Book of Days”. 

Appearing with the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra as soloist in the 2023-24 season, he was hailed as “uncommonly expressive…and technically prodigious” (San Francisco Classical Voice) for his performance of Guillaume Connesson’s acrobatic concerto, A Kind of Trane.  He has also been a soloist with the United States Navy Band, performing Quicksilver by Chicago-based composer Stacy Garrop, and has been featured as a soloist with the Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra, Piedmont Wind Symphony, UNCSA Symphony, and Zagreb Soloists (Croatia).

Robert holds a teaching position at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts as the Associate Professor of Saxophone.  Young’s students have received honors at several local, regional and national competitions and have been featured at several clinics and conferences throughout the country.  He previously has served on the faculties of The Crane School of Music - SUNY Potsdam and Wichita State University.  Young is often invited to give guest lectures and classes throughout the country.  In Fall 2022, Robert was invited as be a guest teacher for the renowned University of Michigan saxophone studio as a sabbatical replacement for the award-winning saxophonist Timothy McAllister.

Robert earned his Doctor of Musical Arts (2011) and Master of Music (2008) degrees in saxophone performance from the University of Michigan where he studied with Professor Donald Sinta. At the University of Michigan, he studied jazz saxophone with Dr. Andrew Bishop and was a recipient of the Lawrence Teal Fellowship. Young received a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina (2006) in saxophone performance where he studied with Dr. Clifford Leaman. 

As a Conn-Selmer Artist, Robert Young plays exclusively on Selmer saxophones.  He also serves as a D’Addario artist/clinician and endorses Key Leaves products.