EDUCATION
B. Mus. (saxophone performance), Central Michigan University. Mt. Pleasant, Michigan (summa cum laude). December 2005
M.M. (saxophone performance), Michigan State University. East Lansing, Michigan. May 2008
AREAS OF INTEREST
Music appreciation for non-majors; American popular music; jazz (specifically Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and post-Coltrane lineages, e.g., David Liebman); Richard Wagner; the collaborative works of visual artist Matthew Barney and composer Jonathan Bepler; the saxophone’s use in popular music
LANGUAGES
English: native
German: reading, good; speaking, proficient
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
North American Saxophone Alliance
AFM Local 92 – Buffalo Musicians’ Union
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2011-16 Instructor. Center for Integrative Studies in the Arts & Humanities, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
MSU Office of Study Abroad: Music, Art, and Language in Bregenz, Austria
IAH 241A: Integrative Arts and Humanities: Music in Western Europe and United States since 1500
• Music appreciation for non-majors, focusing on Western Art Music (i.e., classical music) from Renaissance to present, jazz, popular music, and folk music
• Format: One section of ~12-18 students, utilizing in-class and web-based environments. Study abroad course in Bregenz, Austria including live performances and field trips in Bregenz, Vienna, and Munich
2009-16 Adjunct Professor of Music. Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, Michigan
MUS 338: Instrumental Methods
• Instrumental methods for Music Education majors
• Format: Multiple students in an independent study format utilizing in-class and web-based environments
MUS 314: History of Western Music, 1750 to Present
• Historical survey of classical music from the Rococo and Classical periods through present day
• Format: ~20 students, utilizing in-class and web-based environments. Also taught two students collectively in an independent study, utilizing in-class and web-based environments
MUS 313: History of Western Music to 1750
• Historical survey of classical music from Ancient Greece through the Baroque
• Format: ~20 students, utilizing in-class and web-based environments. Previously taught multiple students collectively in an independent study, utilizing in-class and web-based environments
MUS 310/210: Applied Saxophone Lessons
• Private saxophone lessons for music majors, music minors, and non-majors
MUS 152: Music Foundations
• Music appreciation for non-majors, focusing on Western Art Music from Antiquity to present, jazz, popular music, and folk music
• Format: Taught multiple sections of 15-45 students each, utilizing in-class and web-based environments. Courses included traditional fifteen-week terms, a four-week accelerated term, and a two-weekend adult program term
2006-09 Graduate Teaching Assistant. College of Music, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
IAH 241A: Integrative Arts and Humanities: African and African American Music
• Music appreciation for non-majors, focusing on folk and popular styles of African music, and folk and popular styles of African American music
• Supervisor: Dr. Mark Johnson
IAH 241A: Integrative Arts and Humanities: Music and Culture in the Modern World
• Music appreciation for non-majors, focusing on classical music from the Classical era to present, jazz, popular music, and folk music
• Supervisor: Dr. Mark Johnson
IAH 208: Integrative Arts and Humanities: Music and Culture (three semesters)
• Music appreciation for non-majors, focusing on classical music and art from Antiquity to present, and the parallels between the visual and musical arts
• Supervisor: Dr. Dale Bonge
IAH 208: Integrative Arts and Humanities: Music and Culture
• Music appreciation for non-majors, focusing on classical music and art from Antiquity to present, and the parallels between the visual and musical arts
• Supervisor: Dr. Carol Hess
MUS 211: History of Western Music to 1750
• Historical survey of classical music from Ancient Greece through the Baroque
• Supervisor: Dr. Kathryn Lowerre
2007-09 Writing Tutor
• Private writing tutor for MSU international doctoral students pursuing their D.M.A. degree, focusing on
comprehensive examination prep and dissertation document review
1999-present Private Saxophone Instructor
• Private and group instruction, master classes, and sectionals for beginners through college undergraduates in classical and jazz styles
PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE (professional)
2003-present Soprano, alto, tenor, baritone saxophones, flute, piccolo, clarinet, Eb clarinet, bass clarinet. Freelance saxophonist in classical, jazz, musical theater, and popular styles.
2008-present Soprano, alto, tenor saxophones, flute. Collaboration with guitarist/composer Matt Borghi (including Matt Borghi & Michael Teager, Teag & PK, Now Know Quartet, and Olagra); studio work and regular performances throughout the Midwest and nationally, improvised and original/arranged in various styles including ambient, electronic, and folk. East Lansing, Michigan & Buffalo, New York
2024-present Alto saxophone (lead), flute, clarinet. Buffalo Jazz & Swing; jazz ensemble focusing on traditional swing and related jazz styles. Buffalo, New York
2024-present Soprano saxophone, clarinet. Back Room Jazz Band; jazz ensemble focusing on traditional New Orleans and Dixieland jazz styles; Buffalo, New York
2023-present Alto (lead), soprano saxophones, flute, clarinet. Anderson Big Band; big band focusing on swing and modern jazz; Buffalo, New York
2023-present Baritone saxophone, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet. Joe Baudo’s Big Band; big band focusing on mainstream and crossover jazz; Buffalo, New York
2019-present Tenor, alto saxophone, flute, piccolo. Boneshakers Blues Band; blues, rock, and pop cover band; Buffalo, New York
2012-present Tenor, alto saxophone. White Gold Scorpio; rock band; studio work; Brooklyn, New York & Detroit, Michigan
2022-25 Tenor saxophone. Urban Renewal; soul, R&B, and pop cover band; Buffalo, New York
2022-24 Tenor saxophone. Groove Train; Tower of Power cover band; Buffalo, New York
2023-24 Soprano, tenor saxophones, flute. Chuck Abell; originals and covers in rock, folk, pop, and blues styles; Buffalo, New York
2020-23 Tenor saxophone, clarinet. The Grandfathers Orchestra; big band focusing on swing and traditional jazz; Buffalo, New York
2008-17 Soprano, alto, tenor saxophones. West Michigan Symphony. Muskegon, Michigan
2012-16 Tenor saxophone, flute. The Fencemen; indie rock band; studio work and live performance; Lansing, Michigan
2012-16 Tenor, soprano saxophones, flute. Levi Taylor & Friends; funk and jazz band; live performance; Ann Arbor, Michigan
2008-11 Soprano, alto, tenor saxophones, flute. The Elevator Conspiracy; rock-based ensemble featuring original and improvised music with regular performances in mid-Michigan. Lansing, Michigan
2010-11 Soprano, tenor saxophones. Zentropy; jam band with regular performances throughout the Houston/Galveston area. Houston, Texas
2009-10 Soprano, tenor saxophones, flute. First Flight; funk/fusion ensemble with regular performances throughout southeast Michigan. Ann Arbor, Michigan
2008-10 Tenor saxophone. Salsa Verde; salsa and Latin jazz ensemble with regular performances and clinics in mid-Michigan. East Lansing, Michigan
2004-09 Tenor saxophone. The French Henchmen; jazz trio and duo emphasizing standards and originals with performances throughout Michigan. Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
2006-08 Tenor saxophone. Cosima Saxophone Quartet; chamber ensemble emphasizing contemporary music with regular performances and clinics locally and nationally. East Lansing, Michigan
2007 Tenor saxophone. Lansing Symphony Orchestra. East Lansing, Michigan
2004/07 Tenor saxophone. Lansing Symphony Big Band. East Lansing, Michigan
2006 Alto saxophone. Bijou Orchestra. Saginaw, Michigan
2006 Soprano, alto, tenor saxophones, flute, clarinet; daily performances of jazz sets, production shows, and cabarets with a variety of guest artists. Regent Seven Seas Cruises M/S Seven Seas Navigator; United States, Caribbean, Europe
2005 Tenor saxophone. Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra. Saginaw, Michigan
2003-05 Soprano, alto, tenor saxophones, flute. The Dirty River Jazz Band; jazz and fusion ensemble emphasizing original compositions and collective improvisation with regular performances throughout Michigan. Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
DISCOGRAPHY
2023 The Fencemen, The Fencemen; Down Peninsula Audio
2023 Beautiful Colors (Home Recordings, Vol. 7), Sean Madigan Hoen; Down Peninsula Audio
2022 More More More More Monuments, The Fencemen; Down Peninsula Audio
2022 “Restoration,” Matt Borghi & Michael Teager
2020 Subterranean Bearings, Matt Borghi & Michael Teager; Slo.Bor Media
2020 “Vanishing Point,” Matt Borghi & Michael Teager; episode #89 of the Ambient Soundbath podcast
2020 Vol. 1, Spirochete Session; Down Peninsula Audio
2016 Lakshmi, Iam Saums; Kingdom of Sound
2015 Star’s End Special Edition: Winter Solstice 2015, Matt Borghi & Michael Teager; unreleased commission
2015 Winter Eyes, Olagra; Slo.Bor Media, SBM046
2014 Seek Harmony EP, White Gold Scorpio; Down Peninsula Audio 10311979
2014 Shades of Bending Light, Matt Borghi & Michael Teager; Slo.Bor Media, SBM044
2014 Old Slow Sad Ones 2002-2006, Sean Madigan Hoen; Down Peninsula Audio, DPA 10311977
2014 Beyond the Borders: Ultima Thule Ambient, Vol. 2, Matt Borghi & Michael Teager; Ultimate Thule Ambient Media, UTAM 002
2014 Ambient Music to Heal: An Album for Our Wounded Warriors, Matt Borghi & Michael Teager; Wayfarer Records, WR 051714-27
2014 Awaken the Electric Air: Live on Star’s End, 10.20.2013, Matt Borghi & Michael Teager; Slo.Bor Media, SBM043
2013 After Otherwise, Matt Borghi; Mareld – Substream, mareld57
2013 Convocation, Matt Borghi & Michael Teager; Slo.Bor Media, SBM042
2012 2012 Holiday Sampler, The Fencemen; Suburban Sprawl Music / Neighbor Neighbor LTD, NNLTD-002
2012 Halloween Island, White Gold Scorpio; Old Point Light, OPL-002
2012 Times Are Alright, The Fencemen; Neighbor Neighbor LTD, NNLTD-001
2012 3-Way Singles Club, Vol. 10, Teag & PK; It Takes a Village To Make Records, ITAV #20
2011 Metal & Fire: Songs That Low Taught Us, Cardboard Academy; It Takes A Village To Make Records, ITAV #016
2010 Amidst the Drifting Symmetry, Matt Borghi & Michael Teager; inaugural release of VagueTerrain’s Audio Editions
2010 Live at WCBN 04.28.10, The Elevator Conspiracy; independent release
2010 Sky Tunes, First Flight; independent release
MEDIA
2022 The Company of Dads Podcast (The Company of Dads). Featured guest on episode #11, “How to Balance Two Careers Without Resentment” on 04.11.22.
2018 Hearts of Space (Hearts of Space). Featured artist on episode #1180, “FLOATING WINDS.”
2016 Critical praise and comprehensive review by between sound and silence: “Matt Borghi & Michael Teager: Illuminating Through Shadow”
2014 Critical praise of Shades of Bending Light on Star’s End, textura, and The Hypnagogue
2014 Hearts of Space (Hearts of Space). Featured artist on episode #1035, “SAXOPHONIC.”
2014 Critical praise of Awaken the Electric Air from Disquiet, Star’s End, textura., and Hypnagogue
2014 Echoes (Public Radio International). Featured artist on 01.09.14 podcast including in-studio interview in support of Convocation.
2014 Echoes (Public Radio International). Featured artist on 01.08.14 episode including in-studio interview in support of Convocation.
2013 Echoes (Public Radio International). Featured artist on 11.06.13 episode including Living Room Concert in support of Convocation.
2013 Critical praise of Convocation from textura, Hypnagogue, Star’s End, and Aural Innovations.
2013 Star’s End (WXPN; Philadelphia, PA). Live in-studio performance on 10.20.13.
2013 Star’s End (WXPN; Philadelphia, PA). Convocation selected as a “Top 15” album for March 2013.
2013 Echoes (Public Radio International). Convocation selected as a “Top 25” album for March and November 2013.
PODCASTING
2022 Just Answer the Question, created and hosted by Alice Dreger. Producer and musician. Contribute to all
stages of an episode’s production: topic generation, booking guests, recording and participating in interviews, composing and recording music, episode assembly, publication.
SERVICE
2024-present Parent representative. West Seneca Teachers’ Center, West Seneca Central School District, West Seneca, New York
2020-present Member. West Elementary PTA, West Seneca Central School District, West Seneca, New York
2020-25 Chairperson (2021-25), board member. Town of West Seneca Ethics Board, West Seneca, New York
2023-25 Member. West Elementary Shared Decision-Making Team, West Seneca Central School District, West Seneca, New York
2021-22 Member. Re-Envisioning West Seneca Schools committee, West Seneca Central School District, West Seneca, New York
2020 Secretary. Town of West Seneca Citizens’ Budget Advisory Group, West Seneca, New York
2014-16 Vice Chair (2016), commissioner. City of East Lansing Arts Commission. East Lansing, Michigan
2008-09 Graduate student representative. Michigan State University College of Music Academic Integrity Committee, East Lansing, Michigan
2006-08 Secretary, representative. Michigan State University College of Music Student Advisory Council, East Lansing, Michigan
2006-08 Student representative. Michigan State University College of Music Graduate Committee, East Lansing, Michigan
2007-08 Steward. Michigan State University Graduate Employees Union Stewards Council, East Lansing, Michigan
WRITING & EDITING
2009-present MT-Headed Blog. (http://mtheadedblog.com) Music-centric and pan-stylistic blog with international readership. 200+ essays cover topics including performance, pedagogy, business, criticism, and reviews. Administrator and writer. Articles have been featured by PRISM Quartet, Dave Liebman, Ethan Iverson, Tord Gustavsen, Etymotic Research, Inc., University Musical Society, Yale University Art Gallery, Chicago Lyric Opera, The Wagnerian, and Lansing’s City Pulse.
2022-2024 Freelance copyeditor. Reviewed novels by independent author before publication.
2015-2017 East Lansing Info. (https://eastlansinginfo.org) Non-profit citizen-run local news cooperative of the people, by the people, and for the people of East Lansing, MI providing free, local, non-partisan news. Citizen-reporter contributing original reporting on government and the arts and copyeditor for other authors’ articles.
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
2008-present Business Manager. Up and Running Software, Inc. Ames, Iowa (telecommute)
• Manage accounting processes; coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure prompt
processing, delivery, receipt, and payment
• Work with CEO to manage company-wide business (administrative, sales, marketing, accounting) operations
• Serve as company’s administrative, non-technical point of contact for clients of all sizes, from startups to billion-dollar corporations
• Produce and edit copy for internal (administrative) and external (marketing, sales) efforts
• Manage distributed team; coordinate, assign, and monitor tasks
• Work independently and collectively with internationally distributed coworkers in a virtual environment
ADJUDICATION
2025 Saxophone. Seating Auditions; Buffalo State University Honors Band
2025 Clarinet. Entrance Auditions; Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra
2010-15 Woodwind
– Solo & Chamber. Jackson Area Home Educators Solo & Ensemble; Spring
Arbor University
2013 Senior Woodwind – Solo. State Competition (Michigan);
Music Teachers National Association
HONORS AND AWARDS
2026 JazzBuffalo 11th Annual Poll: Runner-up, Alto Saxophonist of the Year 2025
2026 JazzBuffalo 11th Annual Poll: Winner, Jazz Big Band of the Year 2025 (Anderson Big Band, member)
2026 JazzBuffalo 11th Annual Poll: Runner-up, Jazz Trad/Dixieland/Swing/NOLA Band of the Year 2025 (Back
Room Jazz Band, member)
2025 JazzBuffalo 10th Annual Poll: Winner, Jazz Big Band of the Year 2024 (Anderson Big Band, member)
2025 JazzBuffalo 10th Annual Poll: Winner, Most Memorable Performance 2024 (Anderson Big Band at the
Northwest Jazz Festival in Lewiston, NY, member and featured soloist)
2025 JazzBuffalo 10th Annual Poll: Winner, Jazz Trad/Dixieland/Swing/NOLA Band of the Year 2024 (Back Room Jazz Band, member)
2006-09 Graduate Teaching Assistantship, Michigan State University
2005 Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society
2005 Robert Hayes Jazz Award, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
2005 Outstanding Soloist, Elmhurst Jazz Festival, Elmhurst, Illinois
2002 National Society of Collegiate Scholars
2001-05 Music Scholarship, Central Michigan University
2001-05 Michigan Merit Award
PERFORMANCES AT CONFERENCES
2008 Quartet performance of William Albright’s Fantasy Etudes. Biennial conference of the North American Saxophone Alliance, Columbia, South Carolina
2007 Solo performance of Augusta Read Thomas’s Chant and Daniel Gonko’s Two Movements for Saxophone. Quartet performance of William Albright’s Fantasy Etudes for saxophone quartet. Regional meeting of the North American Saxophone Alliance, Chicago, Illinois
2007 Quartet performance of Robert Schumann’s Gesänge der Frühe [transcription], ensemble performance with Michigan State Saxophone Collective. United States Navy Band Saxophone Symposium, Washington, DC
2004 Quartet performance of Jakob ter Veldhuis’s Pitch Black, solo performance of Benjamin Boone’s Election Year. World Saxophone Congress, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2002 Quartet performance of Russell Howland’s Quartet No. 4. National meeting of North American Saxophone Alliance, Denton, Texas
ACADEMIC RECITALS
2008 Solo recital, classical. Works by Thomas, Berio, Cornelison, Albright, Bennett. Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
2008 Saxophone quartet. Works by Schmitt, Donatoni, Adler, Scarlatti, Albright, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
2007 Saxophone quartet. Works by Albright, Maslanka, Dubois, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
2005 Solo recital, classical and jazz. Works by Albright, Desenclos, Gonko, Shorter, Young, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
2005 Solo recital, classical and jazz. Works by Albright, Berio, Coltrane, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
2004 Solo recital. Works by Dahl, Torke, Poulenc, Heath, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
2003 Solo recital. Works by Desenclos, Muczynski, Heath, Villa-Lobos, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
MASTER CLASSES
02.12.08 Christophe Bois (Donatoni: Rasch)
11.30.07 Jean-Michel Goury (Adler: Line Drawings)
10.12.05 Claude Delangle (Albright: Sonata)
04.02.05 Timothy McAllister (Albright: Sonata)
04.08.03 Otis Murphy (Veldhuis: Pitch Black)
PRIVATE STUDY
2006-08 Joe Lulloff, Distinguished Artist Professor of Music – Saxophone, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
2000-05 John Nichol, Professor of Saxophone, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
2003-05 Robbie Smith, Associate Professor of Jazz Studies, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
12.10.05 John Sampen, Bowling Green, Ohio
08.26.05 David Liebman, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
05.23.04 John Harle, London, England
05.21.04 Gerard McChrystal, London, England
10.16.03 James Umble, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
REFERENCES
Available upon request