Biography
Scottie W. Wright received his doctor of musical arts degree from the University of Minnesota in August 2010. While there Scottie studied under Dr. Eugene Rousseau, and taught saxophone as Dr. Rousseau's graduate assistant.
Dr. Wright received his master's in saxophone performance from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, where he studied with Gary Louie and Christopher Ford. He received his bachelor's from the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Dr. Donald DaGrade.
He has played under the batons of Valery Gergiev, Dmitri Liss, Leon Botstein, Mark Russell Smith, and Hajime Teri Murai, and in venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Hermitage, Mariinsky Theatre, Alice Tully Hall, and Tanglewood. Scottie is a winner of the University of the Pacific Concerto Competition, and has reached the final or semifinal rounds of the Carmel, Coleman, and the Fischoff chamber music competitions.
Previous engagements include:
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a performance of new works for saxophone, violin, and piano at Studio Z in St. Paul, Minnesota
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a performance in the MacPhail Spotlight Series
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a world premiere performance of Richard Pearson Thomas' "Vishnu Schist" for baritone saxophone at Columbia University
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a solo recital as part of the St. Mark’s Music Series, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis
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a lecture recital on the "Chants Lyriques" of Fernande Breilh-Decruck at the NASA region 3 conference
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a lecture on the life and saxophone music of Fernande Breilh-Decruck at the NASA Biennial Conference
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a performance of David Kechly's "Valencia: Iberian Musings for Marimba and Saxophone Quartet" with the Quadrivium Saxophone Quartet and Gordon Stout, for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra's Engine 408 series
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a performance of John Cage's "OCEAN" for the Walker Art Center and Merce Cunningham Dance Company.
Scottie relocated to New Jersey in the fall of 2016. Previously, he was on the faculties of Inver Hills Community College; MacPhail Center for Music; and St. Paul Academy.
Ghostchild Studios
Publications:
fernande breilh-Decruck, waiting for re-discovery
The Works Of fernande breilh-Decruck
Beginner and Intermediate Scales for the Saxophone Kindle Edition
SCREECH-O-NOMICS
THE WORKS AND STYLES OF FERNANDE BREILH-DECRUCK’S MUSIC FOR SAXOPHONE: A COMPARISON
Saxophone Handbook
SCREECH-O-NOMICS
Kindle Edition
SCREECH-O-NOMICS
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL
Videos:
Teaching:
The studio is located at 60 Stephensburg Rd., Port Murray, NJ. For more information regarding rates and availability, please email scottiewwright@gmail.com.
Dr. Wright has been teaching saxophone since 1995 and is currently on faculty at Far Hills Country Day School. Recently he was the saxophone teaching specialist at Inver Hills Community College, a woodwind instructor at the MacPhail Center for Music, and the assistant band director and woodwind instructor at the Saint Paul Academy in Minnesota. Previously, from 2008 to 2010, Scottie taught saxophone and coached saxophone quartets at the University level as Dr. Rousseau’s graduate assistant while at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Wright has consistently helped students rapidly rise from the beginning or intermediate level to advanced performance levels. He uses a variety of pedagogical devices to tailor instruction individually, and use an assortment of methods to teach skills, ranging from circular breathing to slap tonguing to altissimo.
In terms of teaching outcomes, Dr. Wright’s students have won and/or reached the finals in regional and national competitions, including:
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the North American Saxophone Alliance’s Classical Solo Competition;
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the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition; and
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the Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition.
Dr. Wright’s students have been accepted into programs such as Interlochen Center for the Arts, the Eastman School of Music, Crane School of Music, University of Arizona, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, and Montclair State University.
CONcerts
Check back for upcoming concerts in 2023
recordings
Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra, Mvt 1 (excerpts) by Henri Tomasi
Holy Roller (excerpts) by Libby Larsen
Sonata in C
Sharp, Noel by Fernande Breilh-Decruck
Trio for Viola, Tenor Saxophone and Piano, Op.47 Mvt 2 by Paul Hindemith
