Saxophonist, composer, educator, and curator, Michael Rene Torres, currently serves as Lecturer of Saxophone at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio and Instructor of Saxophone and Composition at Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio. He is also the founder and Executive Director of the Columbus Ohio Discovery Ensemble (CODE); a contemporary music ensemble that is dedicated to the promotion, performance, and perception of new music in Central Ohio. Additionally, Michael is an Advisory Board member of the Johnstone Fund for New Music which advances the performance of new music for the benefit of the Central Ohio community and is an Executive Committee member of the Society of Composers, Inc. as the Co-Editor for the bimonthly national SCI Newsletter. Michael has presented recitals, clinics, and masterclasses at conferences and universities throughout the USA. As an advocate of contemporary music, Michael has commissioned and premiered several works for the concert saxophone and is an active chamber musician as a member of the Tower Duo with flutist, Erin Helgeson Torres. Tower Duo specializes in creating engaging musical experiences and commissioning new concert works to advance the growing repertoire of the flute and saxophone duet. Michael holds degrees from The Ohio State University (DMA-saxophone, MM-composition), Northwestern University (MM-saxophone), and Stetson University (BME-education). He has studied saxophone with James Bishop, Frederick L. Hemke, James Hill, and Joseph Lulloff. For more information, visit Michael’s website: www.michaelrenetorres.weebly.com