Sharel Cassidy, saxophone

Saxophonist, Multi-Reedist, Composer, Bandleader, Recording Artist and Educator Sharel Cassity (pron.“Sha-Relle”) is a distinguished musician on the New York jazz scene where she resided for 16 years. Listed as “Rising Star Alto Saxophone” in Downbeat Magazine for the past 9 consecutive years & having earned her Masters from The Juilliard School on full scholarship, Sharel has won the 2007 ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award & was inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 2010.

Known for her fiery and soulful style of improvising & her expert ensemble skills, Sharel is a versatile sideman having performed regularly alongside renowned artists Roy Hargrove, Lewis Nash, Joe Chambers & Darcy James Argue. Currently a regular member of the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, Dizzy Gillespie Afro Cuban Experience, Nicholas Payton’s TSO, Cyrus Chestnut’s Brubeck Quartet and the Jimmy Heath Big Band, Sharel has toured 24 countries and performed at leading venues like the Newport Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival & the North Sea Jazz Festival. Sharel was lead alto in the Diva Jazz Orchestra from 2007-2014 and performed in the Broadway musical After Midnight as well as Maurice Hines’ Off-Broadway production, Tappin’ Through Life. Other jazz luminaries she has performed with include Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Natalie Cole, Christian McBride, Gregory Porter, James Moody, Clark Terry, Phil Woods, Slide Hampton, Maceo Parker and Terrence Blanchard.

In addition to performing, Sharel has always been passionate about teaching and inspiring future generations of musicians. Cassity currently is a Professor of Saxophone and Piano at Elgin Community College in Elgin, Illinois. Between 2016-17 Sharel served abroad as the Woodwind Professor at Qatar Music Academy in Doha, Qatar. Students from her private studio have won scholarships to the Hartt School of Music and placement in Jazz for Teens, Jazz House Kids and the Jazz Standard Youth Orchestra. She has taught internationally in Japan, Costa Rica, Mexico, China and Qatar and has given numerous clinics about the saxophone, jazz language, rhythm, harmony and music business.

Starting her musical journey at the age of 6 as a classical pianist & quickly winning state level competitions by the age of 8, she went on to win numerous awards on a national level--eventually placing in the Disney International Piano Concerto Competition at age 11. Receiving her first saxophone at the age of 9, Sharel was classically trained in the French school of saxophone by a descendant of classical saxophonist Eugene Rousseau. Later at Yukon High School in Yukon, Oklahoma Sharel added flute, clarinet & piccolo to her arsenal and performed in the school jazz, marching and symphonic bands. While in high school she was the recipient of the John Philip Sousa Award and earned a position in both Oklahoma All State Jazz and All State Concert bands for 3 consecutive years. Afterwards she attended the University of Central Oklahoma Jazz Program for 2 years before transferring to NYC to complete her BFA at The New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music.