Zachary Shemon

Saxophonist Zach Shemon enjoys a versatile career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, and pedagogue. Shemon serves as alto saxophonist and co-artistic director of the PRISM Quartet. Since joining the ensemble, PRISM has released numerous recordings, performed on many of the world’s leading festivals for contemporary music, and performed with the quartet as a soloist with bands and orchestras throughout the world. PRISM is committed to educational outreach, has held residencies at top music institutions around the world, and has served countless music students through its PRISM Quartet Institute. As a soloist, Shemon was awarded 1st prize at the inaugural International Saxophone Symposium and Competition in Columbus, GA and has also appeared as a concerto soloist with numerous professional and collegiate bands and orchestras. He regularly performs at national and regional conferences and as guest artist at school music programs. In his position as Professor of Saxophone at the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory, Shemon maintains a thriving studio of graduate and undergraduate saxophone majors. Current and former students have been finalists in national and international competitions, as well as in auditions for US Military Bands. His former students hold teaching positions at colleges, high schools, and middle schools throughout the country. He spends his summers on faculty at the Interlochen Arts Camp and directing the Kansas City Saxophone Workshop. Shemon holds degrees in performance from Indiana University and the University of Michigan. He has also studied at the Université Européenne de Saxophone in Gap, France and the Aspen Music Festival and School. His primary teachers are Donald Sinta and Otis Murphy. Shemon is a Conn Selmer artist and performs on Selmer (Paris) saxophones. As a D’Addario Woodwinds artist, he performs on Reserve reeds, aids in product research and design, and is an active clinician throughout the world.