Donald Sinta

Donald Sinta (born June 16, 1937, Detroit, Michigan) is an American classical saxophonist, educator, and administrator.

In 1969 he was the first elected chair of the World Saxophone Congress.

Teaching career

He serves as Earl V. Moore Professor of Saxophone at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

He previously served on the music faculties of the Hartt School of Music and Ithaca College.

Sinta is the emeritus director of the Michigan Youth Ensembles Program, the Michigan All-State program at Interlochen Arts Camp and director of the MPulse Ann Arbor saxophone institute.

Students

Sinta has taught hundreds of college aged saxophonists, many of whom have gone on to teach at well regarded universities. He has thereby had an unusually large influence on the style and direction of classical saxophone in America. His students include:

• Phillip Barham, Professor of Saxophone, Tennessee Technological University
• Tom Bergeron, Professor of Music, Western Oregon University
• Christopher Blossom, Saxophonist with the United States Army Field Band
• Jacob Chmara, Saxophonist with the "President's Own" United States Marine Band
• Christopher Creviston, Free-lance saxophonist, New York City; Professor of Saxophone, Crane School of Music, State University of New York, Potsdam, Capitol Quartet
• Andrew Dahlke, Professor of Saxophone, University of Northern Colorado, Capitol Quartet
• Scott Erickson, Professor of Saxophone, Oboe and Bassoon, Murray State University
• James Forger, Professor of Saxophone at Michigan State University, Dean of the School of Music at Michigan State University
• Daniel Goff, Saxophonist with the United States Army Field Band
• David Henderson, saxophone faculty, Stanford University, University of the Pacific, Saxophonist with San Francisco Symphony. Tenor Saxophone with the Premiere Saxophone Quartet
• Brian Horner, Professor of Saxophone, Austin Peay State University
• Laura Hunter, Former concert saxophonist, environmental lawyer
• Lynn Klock, Professor of Saxophone, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
• Carrie Koffman, Professor of Saxophone, The Hartt School of Music
• Clifford Leaman, Professor of Saxophone, University of South Carolina, member of the Ambassador Duo
• Don Lefevre, Professor of Saxophone; Director of Bands; Performing artist, West Texas A&M University
• Matthew Levy, composer, tenor saxophone chair of the PRISM Saxophone Quartet
• Gary Louie, Professor of Saxophone, Peabody Conservatory of Music
• Douglas Masek, Professor of Saxophone, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA Info Page)
• Steven Mauk, Professor of Saxophone, Ithaca College
• Kenny Millions, world renowned jazz musician and composer
• Timothy McAllister, Professor of Saxophone, Herberger Institute School of Music, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, soprano saxophone chair of the PRISM Saxophone Quartet
• Jason McFeaters, Saxophone Instructor, Levine School of Music
• Adam Pendleton, Performance Faculty, Georgia State University School of Music
• Patrick Posey, Director of Orchestral Activities and Planning, The Juilliard School, freelance saxophonist in New York City
• Tim Ries, Saxophonist with the Rolling Stones
• Allen Rippe, Associate Professor of Saxophone, The University of Memphis
• Erik Rönmark, Personal Homepage
• Brian Sacawa, Saxophonist with the United States Army Field Band
• John Sampen, Professor of Saxophone, Bowling Green State University
• Zachary Shemon, current alto saxophone chair of the PRISM Saxophone Quartet
• Jason Smigell, Director of Bands, Howell, MI
• Pathorn Srikaranonda, Professor of Saxophone, Kasetsart University, Thailand and member of Au Sau Ensemble of King of Thailand
• David Stambler, Professor of Saxophone, Pennsylvania State University, Capitol Quartet
• Kevin J. Stewart, San Francisco Saxophone Quartet
• Rik Pfenninger, Professor of Saxophone, Director of Jazz Studies/Music Technology http://www.rikpmusic.com Plymouth State University
• Kelland Thomas, Professor of Music, University of Arizona
• John Vana, Professor of Saxophone, Western Illinois University
• Michael Whitcombe, former alto saxophone chair and founding member of PRISM Saxophone Quartet
• Thomas Wisniewski, freelance saxophonist, Harvard University
• Jay Berckley, Recording Artist, Educator, and Label Executive, [1], [2]
• Jonathan Yanik, Saxophonist with the United States Navy Band
• Todd Rewoldt, Professor of Saxophone, San Diego State University
• Robert Young, Professor of Saxophone, Wichita State University

Performing career

Donald Sinta specializes in contemporary music for the saxophone. He has gained prominence as an interpreter of modern music, is known for his technical abilities as well as his musical interpretation, and is highly regarded for his incorporation of the orchestral string tradition into the language of modern concert saxophone. He has also performed with many major orchestras, including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, as well as other ensembles.

Premieres of new works

Sinta has premiered new works by more than 40 American composers, including:

• "Canto IV" by Samuel Adler
• "Doo-Dah (Trio for Alto Saxophones" by William Albright
• "Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano" by William Albright
• "4 Pieces, Movements" by Georges Andrix
• "Concerto" by Wayne Barlow
• "Music for Saxophone and Piano" by Leslie Bassett
• "Farewell" by Warren Benson
• "Star Edge" by Warren Benson
• "Concert Suite for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble" by William Bolcom
• "Lilith" by William Bolcom
• "Introduction and Dance" by Seymour Brandon
• "Quiet Exchange" by Stephen George Chapman
• "Whisper Rachel" by Stephen George Chapman
• "Simichai-ya" by Laura Clayton
• "Concertino" by Paul Cooper
• "One in Five in One" by Ellwood Derr
• "Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano" by David Diamond
• "Diary Part II" by Edward Diemente
• "Mirrors VI" by Edward Diemente
• "Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra of Wind Instruments" by Ross Lee Finney
• "Canti" by Arnold Franchetti
• "Quartetto" by Arnold Franchetti
• "Sonata" by Arnold Franchetti
• "Shu Gath Manna" by Steven Galante
• "Sintage" by Jack Hale
• "Concerto" by Walter Hartley
• "Duo for Saxophone and Piano" by Walter Hartley
• "Petite Suite" by Walter Hartley
• "Sonorities IV" by Walter Hartley
• "Elaboration" by John Stillman Huggler

• "Quartet" by Jeronimas Kacinkas
• "Concertino" by Frederick Charles Koch
• "Symphonic Rhapsody" by John Anthony Lennon
• "Fantasy-concerto in three movements" by Edward Jay Miller
• "Concerto" by Robert Myers
• "Allegro" by Vaclav Nelhybel
• "Fugatto" by Gregg Smith
• "Illoda" by Howie Smith
• "Diary of Changes" by Jeffrey Steinberg
• "Tones" by Jeffrey Steinberg
• "Concerto" by Alec Wilder
• "Sonata" by Alec Wilder
• "Concerto" by Charles Rochester Young
• "Cross Currents" by Charles Rochester Young

Education

Professor Sinta began his formal musical education at the Larry Teal School of Music. He attended high school at the prestigious Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan, where his band director was legendary band conductor Harry Begian. Sinta received his bachelor's degree from Wayne State University, and, in 1962, he earned a Master of Music degree in saxophone performance from the University of Michigan.

External links

• Donald Sinta faculty page at University of Michigan site

Persondata
Name	Sinta, Donald
Alternative names
Short description	American classical saxophonist, educator, administrator.
Date of birth	June 16, 1937
Place of birth	Detroit, Michigan, United States
Date of death
Place of death