Kevin Baldwin is a saxophonist and composer with extensive training in modern and experimental techniques. As a saxophonist, Kevin has traveled and performed as a soloist and in ensembles all over the world, including Canada, France, Italy, and China. The New York Times called one of Kevin’s performances “…precise and energetic…” Kevin has performed with numerous ensembles such as Iktus+, Ensemble Mise-en, Hotel Elefant, Qubit, Tempus Continuum Ensemble, and Inverted Space. Kevin has made a name for himself focusing on modern saxophone and performance techniques; he utilizes these skills to commission and premiere a wide array of new works in solo and chamber settings. Additionally, Kevin has studied hichiriki and gagaku performance with Hitomi Nakamura.
As a composer, Kevin has received commissions and several other premieres from ensembles and individuals such as Martha Cargo, Anne H. Goldberg-Baldwin, andPlay, loadbang, and Ensemble SurPlus. Planned CD recordings by Martha Cargo and Anne H. Goldberg-Baldwin will feature Kevin’s newest works, body and… and… for solo bass flute, and an untitled work for piano. Extended instrumental techniques and noise timbres perforate his works and often become primary material, asking performers to alter their mindsets of the traditional performance paradigm. Coinciding with experiments in instrumental technique, Kevin has worked heavily with notation and the visual aesthetics of his scores to utilize semiology to change the performers relationship between the score and sounds. Kevin’s research in critical theory and the music of Edgard Varèse inspired his compositional process of “Unearthing Material.” This process aims to reveal layers of material buried within the surface aesthetic of previous sonic elements.
Kevin holds his D.M.A.in Music Composition at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA, where he studied composition with Dr. Joel-Francois Durand and Saxophone with Dr. Michael Brockman. He received his M.M in Contemporary Performance from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Dr. Paul Cohen for saxophone, and Dr. Reiko Fueting in composition. Kevin has earned his B.M. in Music Education and Music Composition at the University of the Pacific, where he studied primarily with Dr. François Rose and Dr. Robert Coburn in composition, and David Henderson for saxophone.