Carly Hood

Carly Hood is a saxophonist and music educator based in the Cincinnati metropolitan area. She is an active performer in both solo and chamber capacities. As an orchestral saxophonist, Carly has performed with several orchestras across the region, including the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and Lexington Philharmonic. She has also been a featured concerto soloist with the CCM Concert Orchestra, CCM Wind Symphony, Stephen F. Austin Orchestra of the Pines, and Cincinnati Youth Wind Ensemble. In addition to her work as a classical saxophonist, Carly is saxophonist and vocalist for the Volksmusik/Schlager group The Überland Band.

Carly serves as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), Cincinnati State, and Thomas More University. She also works extensively with middle and high school students from around the Cincinnati area. Carly enjoys the opportunity to work with students of varying musical backgrounds and experiences, and in addition to her saxophone studio teaching has taught collegiately in the areas of music history, music education, jazz, and chamber music. In addition to her teaching, Carly is passionate about amplifying diverse voices in the saxophone community. To this end, she is an active commissioner and performer of new music on the national and international stage and currently serves as chair of the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Committee for Gender Equity.

Carly received her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) with a cognate in Music History. She holds a Master of Music from Stephen F. Austin State University, and Bachelors of Music and Music Education from CCM.

''My first professional saxophone was a Selmer Series III, which my parents gave me for my 13th birthday (plus Christmas). When asked by many people why they bought such a nice saxophone for a 13-year-old, their response was always 'well, it seems like she's pretty into it.' That saxophone took me from my middle school band room in Kentucky through my master's degree. The second and only other alto I've ever owned is my current horn, a Selmer Series III Jubilee which my father gifted me shortly before his passing in 2016. Henri SELMER Paris saxophones have been a consistent throughline in my musical journey and an inextricable part of my artistic voice. Over a 20+ year relationship, my Series III has transcended its role as an instrument to what I consider to be truly an extension of myself.''