Clinician Detail

Sam Fagaly - Biographical Information

Sam Fagaly is Professor of Saxophone and Director of Jazz Studies at Eastern Illinois University. Under his direction, the EIU Jazz Ensemble has performed at IAJE, ILMEA, and with numerous guest artists such as Joe Williams, Snooky Young, Jeff Hamilton, and many others. The group has released several albums including their most recent entitled, 61920. Sam’s saxophone students have been accepted to graduate schools and furthered their education at prestigious universities including The Eastman School of Music, Michigan State University, The Juilliard School, Northwestern University, The Manhattan School of Music, New York University, and William Patterson University among others. Sam has been active as a clinician and guest soloist throughout the nation. His clinic topics include, Jazz Improvisation, Big Band Rehearsal Techniques, Saxophone Pedagogy (classical and jazz), and Jazz Phrasing and Articulation. He has performed at the Region V NASA Conference in both classical and jazz styles, as a featured soloist with many distinguished jazz artists including J.J. Johnson, Bobby Shew, and Sarah Vaughan. Sam was a member of the USAF Band of the West in which he served as principal alto saxophonist in the Wind Symphony and 1st tenor in the jazz ensemble. Sam earned his Doctor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado where he studied with Roger Greenberg and Gene Aitken. He holds a Master of Music degree from Louisiana State University and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Florida.