BIOGRAPHY

Hailed as “the ideal collaborator for new music” by Brutal New Music Review, and as a “new music virtuoso” by Leslie Tate - saxophonist and new music curator Drew Hosler (he/him/his) is an advocate for contemporary music. Drew’s playing has been praised for its “beautiful tone and technique” by Brutal New Music Review and has been recognized for “his unwavering commitment to bringing fresh, contemporary compositions to the forefront.” by Local 4. Drew has commissioned, premiered, and collaborated on over 200 pieces by award-winning composers such as Andrew Mead, Jamie Leigh Sampson, David Heinick, Marilyn Shrude, Matthew Kennedy, Quinn Mason, and Gregory Wanamaker. His debut solo album, delta waves, features thirteen world premiere recordings of 21st century works for the tenor saxophone. His 2020 EP Hope Will Carry Us featured thirteen new works for solo tenor saxophone. Drew currently serves as the principal saxophonist of the Cleveland Winds and Cleveland Repertory Orchestra. In 2023, he was a saxophonist/clarinetist for the Ohio Light Opera Orchestra. He also frequently performs with the Lima Symphony Orchestra. Previously he spent multiple summers as a saxophonist for the Saginaw Eddy Concert Band. In addition, he has performed with Hyperius Blake and the Sound Experiment, Cleveland Uncommon Sound Project Improvisation Orchestra, and the Decho Ensemble. Drew currently serves as a Substitute Instructor of Chamber Music and the Manager of Concerts and Events at the Cleveland Institute of Music as well as a Lecturer at Case Western Reserve University’s Department of Music.

Drew is an avid performer as a soloist. He premiered Griffin Candey’s new tenor saxophone concerto, Double Aviaries, with Matthew Salvaggio and the Cleveland Repertory Orchestra during their 23/24 season. He also gave the world premiere of Josh Trentadue’s tenor saxophone concerto, To fly and to fall, with conductor Kim Fleming and musicians at The University of Michigan. He can also be heard performing Robert Gross’ Concerto for Tenor Saxophone and Nine Instruments on the album Penumbra from New Focus Records. Additionally, he has performed concerti by Walter Mays and William Albright with the Bowling Green Philharmonia and the BGSU Concert Band. During the spring of 2024, he will premiere a new concerto for tenor saxophone and band by JaeEun Schermerhorn. He has also performed a variety of music for solo saxophone at Classical Revolution Cleveland, New Music Gathering, University of Kansas New Music Guild, 15-Minutes-of-Fame, New Music Mosaic, Boston New Music Initiative, Local 4’s She Scores Festival, as well as various North American Saxophone Alliance Conferences. He has also been featured on WSMR Florida’s Classical Music Station’s Modern Notebook hosted by Tyler Kline.

Drew has been awarded prizes for numerous competitions including the American International Music Competition, Cambridge Music Competition, Bach Music Competition, Vivaldi International Music Competition, Charleston International Music Competition’s Contemporary Music Competition, London Classical Music Competition, American International Music Competition, and the Bowling Green State University (BGSU) Competition in Music Performance.

As a chamber musician, Drew has performed at the IDAGIO’s Global Concert Hall Arts@Future, Zagreb World Saxophone Congress, US Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium, District New Music Coalition, and various Bowling Green New Music and Art Festivals. As a member of the Tekhenu Quartet, he was awarded the Michigan Prize at the 2022 Briggs Chamber Music Competition for their performance of Griffin Candey’s God Forbid. He was awarded first and second prize at the Douglas Wayland Chamber Music Competition with the Epsilon Saxophone Quartet and the Fifth Circle Reed Quintet respectively. These ensembles have been heard on WGTE and WCLV.

Drew is the saxophonist, co-founder, and artistic director for the new music ensemble, The _____ Experiment. To date, the ensemble has worked with composers to premiere over 30 works for mixed chamber ensemble. In March 2020, The _____ Experiment released their debut album, Conversations, which includes seven world premiere recordings from five different composers which was funded partially by the Running Start Competition through Michigan State University. The ensemble has performed across the country, including for New Music Chicago, Michigan State University, Potsdam Crane School of Music, the Flint Institute of Music, University of Florida, University of Miami, and Narloch Piano Studio in Chicago. In addition, the ensemble was awarded multiple prizes through the Charleston International Music Competition’s 2021 Contemporary Music Competition.

As an educator, he has held residencies and given masterclasses across the country including Kent State University, University of Florida, College of Wooster, Bowling Green State University, University of Alabama Birmingham (Jemison Visiting Scholar), University of Miami, and Mercyhurst University (Roche Guest Artist). Drew also runs and maintains a private saxophone studio of students from all over the country. His students have won a variety of awards, including top prizes at solo and ensemble festivals, winning concerto competitions, honor band placements, in addition to top chair placements in their own band. 

Drew currently serves on the Professional Development Committee for the North American Saxophone Alliance. Previously, he served as the Assistant Managing Director for the Cleveland Uncommon Sound Project, an intern for the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts, a beta tester for Silverstein Works, the Marketing and Media Assistant for the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities, an intern for the Akropolis Quintet, and organizer for Capriccio at the University of Michigan.

Drew has participated in festivals such as the SPLICE Institute and the Frederick L. Hemke Institute at Snow Pond Music Festival. Additionally, he is a fellow for both the Cortona Sessions for New Music and The Next Festival of Emerging Artists. Drew holds a Master of Music in Saxophone Performance, a Master of Music in Chamber Music, and a Certificate in Arts Entrepreneurship & Leadership from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance. He also holds a Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance from Bowling Green State University College of Music Arts. Prior to that, he studied at the Flint Institute of Music. His primary instructors have been Timothy McAllister, John Sampen, and Jeffrey Price.