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Dr. Michael Jacobson

Professor of Saxophone
Chair, Music Technology Area
School of Music
One Bear Place
Baylor University
Waco TX 76798-7408
E-mail: Michael_Jacobson@baylor.edu
Phone: (254) 710-3571
Fax: (254) 710-3574

Saxophone Studio Website

Dr. JACOBSON joined the Baylor faculty in 1984, and is currently Professor of Saxophone and Assocaite Dean for Operations. He holds degrees from Arizona State University (Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition, and BM in Jazz Performance); Indiana University (Master of Music in Saxophone Performance); and the University of Texas at Austin (Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance with a Jazz Emphasis). Indiana University also awarded him their prestigious Performer's Certificate. His classical performance has taken him all over the world and earned him grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. His CD recording of John Harbison's San Antonio, issued in 1999 on the AUR label, was a first round Grammy Award nominee in the category "Best Instrumental Solo Performance without Orchestra":

Works have been written for him by such notable composers as Fisher Tull, Walter Hartley, Richard Willis, Charles Young, and Scott McAllister. He is active as both a clinician and adjudicator on a regional and national scale. He is a regular columnist for the Saxophone Journal, and also authored a column dealing with Music Technology in Jazz Player magazine from 1993-1997.

In addition to his work in saxophone performance and pedagogy, Dr. Jacobson is very active in the field of music technology. He taught music technology courses at Baylor before moving into administration. He is a clinician for the MakeMusic Corporation, and frequently conducts clinics and workshops on both Finale music notation software, and SmartMusic Studio intelligent accompaniment software. He is also an Artist/Clinician for both the Yamaha instrument corporation and for Rico Reeds.

Before joining the Baylor faculty in 1984, Dr. Jacobson was a professor at Mansfield University in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, where he was the Director of Jazz Studies and Professor of Saxophone. He is past President of the North American Saxophone Alliance, and was also Region 4 Director (1984-1994) and Membership Director (1980-1984) of the organization. Equally conversant in the jazz idiom, Dr. Jacobson has toured or performed with entertainers such as Bill Cosby, Lou Rawls, and Sammy Davis Jr. among many others.

Dr. Jacobson was honored at the May 2004 commencement ceremonies as one of six Outstanding University Professors. His award was for distinctive teaching as a tenured professor.