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Faculty - Michael Zsoldos

Michael Zsoldos

Michael Zsoldos, affiliate artist, jazz and classical saxophone

Area of expertise

jazz and classical saxophone

Contact Information
Email: Michael Zsoldos

Michael Zsoldos holds a Bachelor of Music degree in saxophone performance from the Eastman School of Music (1993) and a Masters in music theory from Michigan State University (2000). His saxophone teachers were Ramon Ricker, Andrew Speight, and Branford Marsalis.

Michael has performed with jazz musicians such as Paquito D’Rivera, Sheila Jordan, Ernie Watts, Jim McNeely, Matt Wilson, Rebecca Parris, and Jerry Bergonzi and has opened for piano legend McCoy Tyner with his group The Other Three Tenors. His debut CD as a leader will be released in the fall of 2009. Since 2004, Michael has arranged for and performed with the horn section of the dynamic Dartmouth Gospel Choir and Chicago’s One Accord, featuring Walt Cunningham. DCGC and One Accord have performed at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, completed two tours of Italy, Chicago House of Blues, Jazz @ Lincoln Center and most recently performed as part of the Inauguration of President Obama, sharing the stage with Bebe Winans, Yolanda Adams, and Carole King.

In June 2009, Michael was the musical arranger for Oprah Winfrey’s "Trip of a Lifetime" Mediterranean cruise for Harpo productions. He also taught and performed at the 2009 Festival Internazionale del Sassofono in Faenza, Italy.

As a composer, Michael composed and performed a full-length score for the award-winning 2006 documentary "Birdsong and Coffee: A Wake-Up Call", which has aired on PBS and Link-TV.

Teaching has always been an important part in Michael's life. For six years, Michael inspired students as the Band Director at Woodstock Union High School and Middle School, teaching Concert Band, music theory, and jazz ensembles to students in grades 7-12. He has been a frequent conductor of District Jazz Bands in Vermont districts, and has been a repeat clinician for the Vermont and Maine Music Educators Associations. He is currently on the teaching faculties of Castleton State College and Interplay Jazz Camp.

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