An internationally acclaimed performer and educator based out of Minneapolis, Preston Duncan has been hailed as “displaying his saxophone mastery” (The Indianapolis Star) with “virtuosic brilliance” (the Muncie Star/Press) as a “terrific talent”(Marvin Hamlisch).
He has appeared as a soloist throughout the United States, Latin America and Europe. He has performed on over 65 occasions as soloist with large ensembles including The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, La Grande Orchestre des Alpes de la Mer of Nice, the Bowling Green State University Philharmonic, the University of Minnesota Symphony Orchestra and many others. He has performed internationally in such prestigious venues as the Salle Verdi (Milan), the American Embassy (Paris), The Royal Conservatory (Brussels), Circle Theater (Indianapolis), Roberto’s Winds (New York City), UNAM Hall (Mexico City), the National University (Taipei), the Teatro Solis (Montevideo), the National Conservatory (Zagreb), the National Conservatory (San Jose), and Disneyland (Los Angeles).
As a chamber musician he has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Indianapolis Pops, The Minnesota Pops, The Indianapolis Symphony and with such acclaimed artists as Rosemary Clooney, Azmira-Woodward-Page, Marvin Hamlisch and Jeremy Denk. He will perform this November with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. He is currently a member of the Klonos Trio, a saxophone piano trio that commissions and performs new works for saxophone trio. They recently released an album entitle “The Music of Marco Lombardi”
Duncan was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to Paris, France. He has won numerous awards and prizes including 1st prize in the MTNA National Woodwind Competition. He was the featured performer and educator at the 1st Annual Taiwanese National Saxophone Festival, the 12th Annual Encuentro Universitario Internacional de Saxofón in Mexico City and Saxfest Costa Rica. This winter he will perform solo recitals in Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Uruguay and Minnesota!
Duncan currently teaches saxophone at the University of Minnesota. During the summer he teaches on the faculty at Calizzano Creative Saxophone Festival in Italy and is the director of the Twin Cities Saxophone Camp at the University of Minnesota. He has also taught at the Ticino Music Festival and served as the director of the saxophone camp at Shell Lake Arts Center in Wisconsin.
He is an enthusiastic advocate of new music. He has commissioned and premiered works by Kelly-Marie Murphy Bernard Rands, Marco Lombardi, Kenneth Fuchs, Felipe Perez Santiago, Joan Tower, Marco Lombardi, Luca Faldini and many others. Duncan performs exclusively on the Buffet Senzo saxophone and Légère reeds.
