Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana at the age of 11, Brandon Douthitt picked up a saxophone for the first time, beginning his musical journey. Now based in Queens, NY, Brandon has performed at festivals and venues throughout the United States such as the Indy Jazz Fest, CUNY Jazz Festival, AFROPUNK, Radio City Music Hall, City Winery NYC, The Jazz Kitchen, the Vogue, the Chatterbox, National Sawdust, Groove NYC, Silvana, Shrine, Highline Ballroom, and Williamsburg Music Center. He has ... view more »
Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana at the age of 11, Brandon Douthitt picked up a saxophone for the first time, beginning his musical journey. Now based in Queens, NY, Brandon has performed at festivals and venues throughout the United States such as the Indy Jazz Fest, CUNY Jazz Festival, AFROPUNK, Radio City Music Hall, City Winery NYC, The Jazz Kitchen, the Vogue, the Chatterbox, National Sawdust, Groove NYC, Silvana, Shrine, Highline Ballroom, and Williamsburg Music Center. He has been able to share the stage with musical talents like Jeff Coffin, Solange Knowles, Bill Cunliffe, Melvin Rhyne, and Michael Philip Mossman.
A recent graduate of Queens College with a Master of Music degree in Jazz Performance, Brandon studied under the tutelage of Antonio Hart and Tim Armacost. He also had the pleasure of learning from Michael Mossman, David Berkman, Jeb Patton, and Dennis Mackrel. While at Queens College, he collaborated with a considerable amount of his colleagues in different configurations and situations. Upon his graduation, Brandon was awarded the prestigious Jimmy Heath Award.
He began his undergraduate studies at Butler University in 2011, where he studied saxophone with Dr. Matt Pivec and Nick Brightman. Brandon also studied clarinet with Shawn Goodman and piano with Gary Walters. He performed with the Clifford Ratliff Big Band, Butler Saxophone Quartet, Wind Ensemble and served as lead alto saxophone of the Butler Jazz Ensemble. Brandon was also selected to be a “Music and More” student ambassador. During his final year he was honored with an Indianapolis Jazz Foundation scholarship. In 2015, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. Following his graduation, he matriculated to Queens College to further his studies.
As a high school senior, Brandon was selected as the lead alto saxophone for the Indiana All State Big Band and received the Frank “Tooth” Mantooth Outstanding Musician award at the Larry McWilliams Dimensions in Jazz Festival at Ball State University.
In addition to performing, Brandon currently maintains a studio of students at Keiko Studios and has been teaching at the Butler University Summer Jazz Camp since 2011.
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