Donald Sinta

Donald J. Sinta, is the Earl V. Moore Emeritus Professor of Saxophone at The University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance. Formerly on the faculties of the Hartt School of Music and Ithaca College, he has been active for decades as an acclaimed soloist and clinician throughout the United States, Asia and Canada, having also recently completed his 40-year tenure at Michigan. Sinta has premiered more than 40 works by major American composers, and in 1969 he was the first elected chair of the World Saxophone Congress. He is the former director of the All-State Program at Interlochen, the Michigan Youth Ensembles Program and the UMSMTD MPulse Saxophone Institute.

In addition to the Moore Professorship, he held an Arthur Thurnau Professorship at Michigan for outstanding instruction at the undergraduate level. Having taught hundreds of saxophonists, many of whom have enjoyed decorated teaching careers themselves, Sinta's teaching concepts and groundbreaking work in altissimo pedagogy have influenced countless performers and teachers in the US and abroad.

Sinta may be heard on recent recordings of William Walton's Façade with the Lincoln Center Chamber Players and George Crumb's Quest with Speculum Musicale of New York City, as well as several recordings with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on the Chandos label. Currently in re-release, his recording American Music for the Saxophone for Mark Records is known throughout the world.