Taimur Sullivan

Taimur Sullivan is Professor of Saxophone at Northwestern University, and has been a member and Co-Artistic Director of the acclaimed PRISM Quartet for 29 years. His performances have taken him to stages around the globe and have garnered critical praise as "outstanding...his melodies phrased as if this were an old and cherished classic, his virtuosity supreme" (New York Times), a player of "dazzling proficiency" (American Record Guide), “…a whiz…” (Gramophone), and "Mr. Sullivan delivered this...wide-ranging program with a seductive breadth of tone and considerable technical agility" (The New York Times). Through his work as a soloist, with PRISM, and as a founding members of Chicago’s Grossman Ensemble, Mr. Sullivan has dedicated much of his career to generating new repertoire for the saxophone. This has resulted in the premieres of works by over 300 composers, many writing for our instrument for the first time. In honor of his distinguished record of promoting and presenting new works for the saxophone, the New York-based arts-advocacy organization Meet the Composer named him one of eight "Soloist Champions" in the United States. Professor Sullivan’s former students populate the musical landscape, and their activity reflects great diversity as artists. They have garnered top awards at competitions sponsored by Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, Young Concert Artists, M-Prize, Music Teachers National Association, North American Saxophone Alliance, and others, they hold teaching positions at institutions internationally, they perform as renowned jazz and rock artists, and they have won positions with the United States’ premiere military bands. Prior to arriving at Northwestern University, Mr. Sullivan served on the performance faculty at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and Columbia University. He appears on over 50 commercial recordings, and performs exclusively on Selmer saxophones.