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.

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.

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 Chatman
• "Whisper Rachel" by Stephen George Chatman
• "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

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 & Music Department Chair, Western Oregon University
• Christopher Creviston, Associate Professor of Saxophone, Arizona State University, member of Capitol Quartet & Creviston Fader Duo
• Paul Evoskevich, Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies, The College of Saint Rose
• Dan Graser, Assistant Professor of Saxophone, Grand Valley State University, member of Donald Sinta Quartet
• Lynn Klock, Professor of Saxophone, University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Clifford Leaman, Professor of Saxophone, University of South Carolina, member of the Ambassador Duo
• Gary Louie, Professor of Saxophone, Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University
• Timothy McAllister, Associate Professor of Saxophone, University of Michigan, member of PRISM Quartet
• Steven Mauk, Professor of Saxophone, Ithaca College
• Kenny Millions, world-renowned jazz musician and composer
• John Sampen, Professor of Saxophone, Bowling Green State University
• Pathorn Srikaranonda, Professor of Saxophone, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand, court musician of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand

External links

• Donald Sinta faculty page at University of Michigan site