Dr. Stephen C. Page
Associate Professor of Saxophone
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Described by noted American composer Libby Larsen as “fearless on stage,” saxophonist Stephen Page has garnered international prominence as one of today’s leading saxophonists. Dr. Page has concertized across five continents, in the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, Australia, the Canary Islands, and throughout the United States.Well known for his interpretations of new and emerging repertoire for the instrument, Stephen has also gained acclaim for his innovative arrangements and performances of the violin repertoire, including works by Strauss, Grieg, Franck, Prokofiev, and Bach. He continues to further the advancement of the saxophone repertoire through the commissioning of new works from composers such as Viet Cuong, Miriama Young, John Mackey, David Lang, Gala Flagello, David Maslanka, Sarah Gibson, Marc Mellits, Ida Gotkovsky, and Martin Bresnick.
Stephen has earned prizes in no fewer than ten international and national competitions, including the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist and Chamber Music Competitions, the North American Saxophone Alliance Solo and Quartet Competitions, the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, the Yamaha Young Performing Artist Competition, and the AUREC Saxophone Competition, among many others.
As the Alto Saxophone chair of the critically acclaimed Zzyzx Quartet, Stephen has appeared internationally in venues both public and academic. Zzyzx has been featured in concert at meetings of the North American Saxophone Alliance, and the World Saxophone Congress, along with extensive touring throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan. Zzyzx Quartet was selected to serve on the panel of the Barlow Endowment, and was dedicatee of the winner, Ben Hjertmann’s new work for saxophone quartet, “Awake, Alive, Amok, Ajar”.
Dr. Page has released more than fifteen recordings as a soloist and chamber musician which can be heard on the Enharmonic, Teal Creek, Crystal Music, and AUR Labels. His recent recording of concerti by John Adams and John Mackey will soon be released with NAXOS, and a current project of works by Fazil Say, Miriama Young, Yusef Lateef, and Gregory Wanamaker will feature a dual release of both digital audio, and cinematic video.
His experience and expertise in acoustics and design have led to significant collaboration as a Musicians Advisory Board member with D’Addario, serving as Design Consultant for JodyJazz/E.Rousseau Mouthpieces, and he has served as Yamaha Performing Artist and Clinician for nearly twenty years. Dr. Page also serves as a board member for the Elise Hall Competition for Emerging Saxophonists, and has been elected to the North American Saxophone Alliance Executive Committee.
Stephen Page currently serves as Associate Professor of Saxophone and Director of Undergraduate Studies at the Butler School of Music within The University of Texas at Austin, where he has received the Teaching Excellence Award, the Foxworth Centennial Fellowship, and was selected by the College of Fine Arts for the Blunk Memorial Professorship, the University’s most prestigious award for teaching and mentorship.
Marina Sakellakis
Saxophone Studio Teaching Assistant
Marina Sakellakis (she/her) is a multi-faceted performer, educator, and advocate for the arts in Austin, Texas. Originally from New Jersey, she currently serves as the teaching assistant at the University of Texas at Austin and maintains an active performing and teaching career. She regularly plays with the University of Texas Wind Ensemble, Austin Saxophone Ensemble, and her saxophone quartet. As a multi-instrumentalist, she has performed in pit orchestras for musical theater companies such as Zilker Theatre Productions, University of Michigan Musical Theatre Department, and the Heller Awards for Young Artists. Marina has been invited to perform in numerous national and international festivals including the North American Saxophone Alliance conferences, the Texas Music Educators Association Conference, the International Saxophone Symposium, the Trinity CoLab Immersion in London, and the Arosa Music Festival in Switzerland.
As the Teaching Assistant for the University of Texas, she teaches private lessons, applied methods courses, and leads the University Saxophone Ensemble. She also maintains an active private studio. She works with the Austin Independent School District as a private lesson teacher and with the nonprofit, Austin Soundwaves, as a Teaching Artist. She teaches saxophone, clarinet, oboe, and flute. Marina has given masterclasses at Texas A&M International University and many middle and high schools in the Austin Area.
Committed to creating equity and accessibility in the arts, Marina has worked for numerous nonprofits such as the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Austin Soundwaves, and Austin Classical Guitar. With Austin Classical Guitar, Marina worked in Music & Healing, an initiative that provides uplifting musical experiences to people who have experienced significant trauma. She led community music groups and assisted with the Lullaby Project, a songwriting initiative for new and expecting mothers. Marina also founded the Music Memories project as part of the North American Saxophone Alliance’s Committee on Gender Equity’s mentorship program. Music Memories connected nursing homes with high school musicians for digital performances during the pandemic. At the University of Texas, Marina was the Butler School of Music student representative on the Fine Arts Diversity Council for the 2021/2022 academic year.
Her saxophone playing has been recognized by many competitions, such as 2nd prize in the NOLA Chamber fest, semi-finalist in the Young Texas Artists Music Competition, semi-finalist in the NASA Quartet Competition, and first prize in New York International Artists Competition where she played in the winner’s concert at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall.
Marina earned her MM in Saxophone Performance from the University of Texas at Austin under the direction of Dr. Stephen Page. She also graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BM in Multiple Woodwind Performance and a minor in Performing Arts Management and Entrepreneurship from the University of Michigan. She primarily studied classical saxophone with Dr. Timothy McAllister, but also studied oboe, flute, and clarinet. She will be continuing her studies at the University of Texas where she will be pursuing a doctoral degree in Saxophone Performance.