Saxophone Studio
Welcome to the South Dakota State University School of Performing Arts Saxophone Studio page! The primary goal in the saxophone applied studio is to develop proficient saxophonists through development of fundamentals and the exploration of various repertoire both standard and newer works. Applied lessons are required for majors but are also available to minors and nonmajors.
There are also a variety of performing opportunities available for saxophone students here including The Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band, Wind Symphony, Concert Band and Jazz Ensembles. Additionally, saxophone quartet and saxophone ensemble are also offered for those seeking chamber music experience.
Students in the saxophone studio have been active in participating in the annual South Dakota Music Teachers Association/ Music Teachers National Association collegiate solo competitions. Several students have been recognized in those competitions. The saxophone quartet has performed in regional and nation conferences of the North American Saxophone Alliance.
Feel free to reach out if you would like to visit campus for a trial lesson, sit in with our ensembles and/or have questions regarding scholarship auditions.
About Yiqun Chen, DMA
Chen is currently a faculty member specializing in woodwinds and jazz at South Dakota State University. His teaching assignments as a lecturer in the School of Performing Arts include applied saxophone, chamber music, jazz appreciation, jazz pedagogy, woodwind pedagogy and directing jazz ensembles. He is a D'Addario Woodwinds Artist, Eugene Rousseau Mouthpiece Artist and Yamaha Artist.
Chen has performed throughout the United States and in Japan, China, Belgium and Croatia. Recently, Chen performed at the XIX World Saxophone Congress in Las Palmas, Gran Carnaria. Chen has been selected to perform on multiple occasions during the United States Navy Band Saxophone Symposium and the North American Saxophone Alliance Regional and Biennial conferences.
As a soloist, he has been featured with the Hong Kong Youth Saxophone Ensemble, the La Prima Vera Youth Symphony Orchestra, the University of Iowa Concert Band, the South Dakota State University Wind Ensemble and the South Dakota State University Concert Band. Chen is also an active recitalist and has performed and taught masterclasses at the University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University, California State University, Fullerton, California State University Long Beach, Hastings College and Truman State University.
Chen received a Bachelor of Music in saxophone performance from California State University Long Beach, a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Southern California, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Iowa. His teachers include Kenneth Tse, Damani Phillips, Jay Mason, James Barrera and Leo Potts.
