Dr. Andy Wright is Program Director of the music department at Grayson College in Denison, TX, where he teaches saxophone and conducts the band and jazz band. He also serves as Adjunct Professor of Woodwinds at Austin College in Sherman, TX. Previously, he maintained a private studio of over 50 students in the DFW area. His students have gone on to earn spots in All-State and All-Region bands, as well as ensembles like the Lone Star Youth Orchestra and the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Wind Symphony, and several have been named semi-finalists at the North American Saxophone Alliance biennial conference.
As a saxophonist based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Dr. Wright has appeared as guest soloist with the Lone Star Wind Orchestra, Grayson College Concert Band, and the University of North Texas Symphonic Band. He has also performed with ensembles including the Dallas Winds, the North Texas Wind Symphony, the Plano Symphony Orchestra, the Odysseus Chamber Orchestra, the Dallas Jazz Orchestra, and the Les Elgart Orchestra.
In addition to numerous solo recitals, Dr. Wright has performed and presented lectures at the World Saxophone Congress in Zagreb, Croatia, and at various North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) conferences. As a founding member of the SAGA Quartet, he has performed at multiple NASA conferences and served as guest artist at Midwestern State University, Southwestern Adventist University, Southwestern Oklahoma University, and Tarrant County College. The quartet recently released its debut album, The Avenging Spirit.
Dr. Wright can be heard as a featured soloist on several North Texas Wind Symphony recordings, including Canvases, Reconstructions, Conclave, Offerings, and Composer's Collection: George Gershwin, John Mackey and Leonard Bernstein. He has shared the stage with the O'Jays, Ray Charles, Chris Vadala, Steve Houghton, Marc Nuccio, and Andy Martin.
Dr. Wright received his doctorate in saxophone performance from the University of North Texas, studying with Eric Nestler. While at UNT, he served as saxophone Teaching Fellow, teaching a studio of performance, music education, and jazz studies students. He was awarded a Graduate Assistantship Tuition Scholarship and recognized as Outstanding Graduate Student in Woodwinds.
He also holds a Master of Music in jazz studies from UNT's renowned jazz program, studying with Jim Riggs, and a Bachelor's in music education from the University of Central Arkansas under Jackie Lamar.
Andy Wright is a Yamaha Performing Artist and Vandoren Artist-Clinician performing exclusively on Yamaha saxophones along with Vandoren mouthpieces, reeds and ligatures.