Shenandoah University
American Saxophonist Timothy Roberts, a native of Richardson, Texas, is Principal Saxophonist and a National Tour Soloist with the United States Navy Band in Washington, DC. He is also Coordinator of the Navy Band’s International Saxophone Symposium. As one of the Navy Band’s premier concert soloists, Roberts has performed for five U.S. Presidents, many foreign dignitaries, and hundreds of thousands of people throughout all 48 states and around the world since joining the ensemble in 1987.
As winner of the National Symphony Orchestra's Concerto Competition, The Washington Post described his Kennedy Center performance of Jacque Ibert's Concertino da Camera as "simply stunning." A 1999 concerto performance with the Navy Band in Quebec City was reviewed by Le Soliel as "the audience enjoyed the fluid technique, lightness of tone, and impeccable playing of saxophonist Timothy Roberts." In two separate solo appearances with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas Morning News noted, “Tim Roberts poured forth the creamiest, most gorgeous sounds ever heard from a saxophone, and phrased eloquently besides", and “the especially deft, lovingly played saxophone lent his own magic”.
Roberts makes frequent appearances with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra performing in Dallas, on European festival tours, and on numerous recordings for the Dorian, Delos, and Hyperion compact disc labels. He was chosen as one of four international concerto soloists featured at the World Saxophone Congresses in Montreal, Canada (2000), and Bangkok, Thailand (2009), along with the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference in Iowa City, Iowa (2006). He also performed at recent saxophone congresses in Ljubljana, Slovenia (2006), and Columbia, South Carolina (2008). As a commercial artist, Roberts has performed with Ray Charles, Bernadette Peters, Gladys Knight, Richard Hayman, Eartha Kitt, Patti Lupone, Crystal Gayle, Olivia Newton-John, Martin Short, John Williams, Tommy Tune, and Marvin Hamlisch, among others. In the past year he has been invited to perform at the International Clarinet/Saxophone Festival in Nanning, China, and the Australian National Band Championship in Hobart, Tasmania.
Roberts completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the Catholic University of America in 2006, where he also served as Director of Instrumental Ensembles for three years. He has had numerous pieces composed especially for him, including John Heins' Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble, and Wilfred Holcombe's Blues Concerto for Alto Saxophone. He was also part of the original commission consortium and an influential advisor to John Mackey in the development of his Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Wind Ensemble, one of the leading pieces for the instrument today.
His military decorations include a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals, all given for his unique solo interpretations, his innovative work in the band’s Tour Operations department, and his superb coordination of the Navy Band’s International Saxophone Symposium. He has also received the National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, the Navy Band Unit Commendation Medal with bronze star, and the Global War on Terrorism Medal. Under Roberts’ leadership, the International Saxophone Symposium is now the largest-attended saxophone event in the world today, featuring international artists including Branford Marsalis, Claude Delangle, Philippe Geiss, Fred Hemke, Masahiro Maeda, Barry Cockroft, and many others.
A strong proponent of music education, Roberts has published over thirty columns for Saxophone Journal. He has developed a popular master class entitled "Developing a Disciplined Practice Routine" that was premiered on a compact disc included in that magazine. Roberts also performs with the East Coast Saxophone Quartet and maintains an active teaching studio at both George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, and Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA. A representative for Conn-Selmer, Selmer Paris, D’Addario (Rico Reeds) and Lomax Classic mouthpieces, he also recently concluded four years service as Secretary of the North American Saxophone Alliance.
An avid student of music and life, Roberts currently makes his home in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and two young children. More information and examples of his unique performance style can be found at www.timothy-roberts.com.