Jacob Nance Music (Saxophone) Temporary Assistant Professor jacobnance0615@sbcglobal.net As a composer and multi-genre musician, saxophonist Jacob Nance (b.1999) aims to use his refined knowledge of the instrument to create genre-blurring art that stimulates intellectual discussion while fostering emotional connection for all audience members. Through performance he strives to share his reflection on the human experience, programming a wide array of works ranging from folk music to the avant-garde in an effort to build community through representation.<br /><br /> As a classical saxophonist, Jacob has achieved success through merging his own creative visions with the multitude of aesthetics presented by composers. These achievements can be evidenced through numerous competition accolades including: being named a quarter finalist in the 8th International Adolphe Sax Competition in Dinant, Belgium, winning second prize in the Music Teacher’s National Association’s Young Artist Woodwind competition, winning the University of Oklahoma’s Young Artist Competition, and performing the Glazunov Concerto as the featured soloist with the Conroe Symphony Orchestra. He is also a successful chamber musician, winning prizes at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the Music Teachers National Association Chamber Music Competition, the North American Saxophone Alliance Quartet Competition, the NOLA ChamberFest competition, and the Barbara Wagner Chamber music competition. As a proponent of jazz music, Jacob has released an album with his combo The Way Out. He has been active in Michigan State University’s jazz program, being in Jazz Orchestra I under the direction of Rodney Whitaker, where the band placed third in the 2023 Jack Rudin Collegiate Jazz Competition, as well as in the Jazz Octet and Combo program. Jacob is an avid jazz composer as well, having composed and performed over a dozen original works with various combos. He has been frequently seen performing around the Oklahoma City area, as well as Mid-Michigan. <br /><br /> Jacob graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Music and Michigan State University with a Masters in Music and Doctorate in Musical Arts. He has served as Instructor of Saxophone at the Flint Institute of Music in addition to keeping a robust private studio. Jacob’s primary teachers include Professor Joseph Lulloff, Dr. Jonathan Nichol, Professor Jay Wilkinson, and Dr. James Barger.