Sam Valancy

    Originally from Miami, Florida, Sam Valancy is an emerging contemporary saxophonist based in northwest Ohio. As a soloist and chamber musician, Valancy has garnered many accolades including First Prize at the Frost School of Music Concerto Competition, Silver Medal and the “Saxophone Prize” at the Coltman Chamber Music Competition, First Prize at the Douglas Wayland Chamber Music Competition, a Downbeat Magazine Award, First Prize at the Charleston International Music Competition, and an Outstanding Soloist Award at the 20th Annual Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington Competition presented by Wynton Marsalis. Valancy has also been recognized by the St. Cecilia International Music Competition, the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition, and was an invited competitor at the Walter W. Naumberg International Saxophone Competition.

    As a soloist and chamber musician, Valancy has performed at a variety of renowned events and venues throughout the country. Valancy is a frequently contracted performer for the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida and has shared the stage with award-winning artists such as the Marcus Roberts Trio, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Christie Julien, and the Miami City Ballet . Valancy has appeared as a concerto soloist with several ensembles throughout the country, including the Kansas City Wind Symphony, Frost Wind Ensemble, Frost Symphonic Band, and most recently was the featured soloist with the BGSU Saxophone Choir at the 2026 North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference at Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. Valancy has also performed for WGTE FM 91, Toledo's classical music radio station and WDNA 88.9 FM Serious Jazz Miami. An advocate for new music, Valancy has given performances at notable contemporary music events such as the BGSU New Music Festival, the Northwestern University New Music Conference (NUNC),  the Heidelberg University New Music Festival, and the Frost Winter Heat New Music Festival. Valancy also gave a featured solo presentation on the orchestral saxophone at the Kellogg Innovation Network (KIN) Global Summit at the New World Center in Miami Beach, Florida. Valancy has been invited as a performer and  presenter at international saxophone conferences , including the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference and the United States Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium. Notable venues Valancy has performed at include the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts,The National Sawdust, and the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre in New York City New York, the New World Center and Adrienne Arsht Center Knight Concert Hall in Miami, Florida, and the Kauffman Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Valancy regularly offers clinics to middle and high schools throughout Ohio and has been invited to perform and present lectures as a guest artist at several universities, including the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Heidelberg University. This August, Valancy will be performing and teaching at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand.

          Valancy has earned degrees from the nation’s most prestigious music schools and saxophone studios. Valancy holds an MM in Music Theory and an Artist’s Certificate in Saxophone Performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, an MM in Saxophone Performance from Northwestern University, and a BM in Saxophone Performance with a minor in Studio Music and Jazz from the University of Miami. Valancy is currently a Doctor of Musical Arts in Contemporary Music candidate at Bowling Green State University where he serves as the Graduate Teaching Associate for the saxophone studio.