Lamar University
Rick Condit currently serves as Director of Jazz Studies and Associate Professor of Saxophone at Lamar University in Beaumont, TX. He began his career in jazz and jazz education in 1973 as the tenor saxophone soloist with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. Since then he has performed and taught in 47 states and over 25 countries on five continents.
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, he spent more than 10 years there as a freelance professional, performing with such noted artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, Ray Brown, Oliver Nelson, Bob Hope, and the San Francisco Symphony Pops Orchestra.
Having made Louisiana his home since 1981, Rick spent 30 years as Director of Jazz Studies and Saxophone Instructor at McNeese State University in Lake Charles. In addition to taking the McNeese Jazz Ensemble on several international tours and hosting dozens of guest artists, He also served as a Fulbright Senior Scholar and Senior Specialist, Kennedy Center Jazz Ambassador to Africa, and received numerous awards including a Louisiana Artist Fellowship and Hall of Fame award.
Rick continues to be active in teaching and performing. He has recently performed with Wycliffe Gordon, Tom Scott, John Pizzarelli, Bobby Shew, Tom “Bones“ Malone, Ingrid Jensen, Joey DeFrancesco, The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, and as a regular member of the Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra.
He additionally does consulting work for McGraw-Hill Higher Education Publications and is Volunteer and Media Coordinator for the Jazz Education Network.