Director of Jazz Studies and Senior Lecturer in Saxophone
Conductor of Jazz Ensemble I
A native of Conyers, Georgia, Sam Skelton has been active on
the Atlanta music scene for well over two decades. Skelton graduated summa cum
laude from Georgia State University and the private studio of Tony Carere with
a degree in Jazz Studies. During his course of study at GSU, Skelton was a
Montgomery Music Scholar and a two-time fellowship recipient to the Aspen Music
Festival. He continued his saxophone studies with Kenneth Radnofsky at Boston
University in 1991.
As a woodwind doubler, Skelton is well versed in any genre
of music. His grasp of saxophone, clarinet and flute has enabled him to remain
very busy in live performance as well as in the studio.
Skelton has performed and/or soloed with The London Symphony
Orchestra, The Atlanta Symphony, The Atlanta Pops, The Peachtree Pops, The
Atlanta Ballet Orchestra and The Cobb Symphony Orchestra as well as numerous
local high school and civic ensembles. World Premiers include James Oliverio’s
Children of A Common Mother, Lee Johnson’s Ora Pro Mi: Concerto for Winds
Soloist (clarinet, flute and soprano saxophone) and Seaside Symphony (clarinet
and soprano saxophone soloist). Skelton also played the premier recording of
Ora Pro Mi and Seaside Symphony with the London Symphony Orchestra.
As a sideman on over 175 compact discs, Skelton remains very
active in the studio and can be heard on recordings by such artists as: Elton
John, December Radio, Babbie Mason, Howard Tate, Matchbox 20, Train, Edwin
McCain, The Gap Band and The Ohio Players. Television and radio jingles include
The Georgia Lottery, Glen Beck, The Weather Channel, The Travel Channel, Ford,
The Cartoon Network, CNN, Nature’s Own, Popeye’s, Papa John’s and Turner South.
Television appearances include In the Heat of the Night, Savannah and Sinbad’s
Summer Jam II on HBO.
Skelton is currently Director of Jazz Studies and Lecturer
in Saxophone at Kennesaw State University. He is also Artistic Director of CSO
Jazz and GYSO Jazz. Skelton served as Professor of Saxophone at Georgia State
University from 1991 to 2004 and was Jazz Ensemble Director at Georgia Tech
from 2002-2004 and Artist-in-Residence at The University Of Georgia Jazz
Department. He served as Visiting Professor of Saxophone at Furman University
2001-02. Professional associations include: Georgia Music Educators
Association, Georgia Association of Jazz Educators, National Academy of Recording
Arts & Sciences (voting member) and the American Federation of Musicians.
Skelton is a Conn-Selmer Artist.
Contact Sam Skelton:
Email:
sskelton@kennesaw.eduPhone: 770-423-6554
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