Bio

Saxophonist and music educator, Dr. Seth Carper, currently calls Cazenovia, NY home, teaching at Syracuse, Cornell & Mansfield Universities. Classically trained and stage tested as a jazz & commercial musician, Dr. Carper covers all aspects of saxophone performance and education. Before NY Seth was a full-time lecturer in the Music Education and Jazz Studies programs at Texas State University, where he directed the Jazz Repertory Band. Leading his quartet and co-leading the NOW Jazz Orchestra (New Original Works), Seth was an integral part of the central Texas music scene. He earned a DMA in Music Performance at the University of Texas in Austin in 2016. Prior to Austin, Seth spent five years in New York City, performing with some of the finest musicians in the world, and teaching at The City College of New York and Third Street Music Settlement. He received his M.M. in Music Performance at CCNY under the tutelage of Grammy Award winning bassist, John Patitucci, and saxophonists Jon Gordon and John Ellis. Before his time in NY, Seth earned a B.M. in Music Education and classical saxophone from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, studying under Dr. Bill Gora and Mr. Todd Wright. A passionate music educator from the beginning of his career, Seth was director of bands at Holmes Middle School in Eden, NC, eventually moving on to teach at Davidson College, Pfeifer University, Temple College, and the University of Texas. As a performer he has recorded and performed with a multitude of jazz greats, pop entertainers & classical ensembles. In 2020, Seth played on Ruthie Foster's Grammy Nominated album, "Live at the Paramount."  An album he recorded with NEA Jazz Master, David Liebman, and the CNYJO will be released in 2023. While in Austin, Seth was a founding member of Grammy winner, Christopher Cross's Freedonia, and recorded the album, "Firefly" in 2018.  Other highlights include performances with Grammy winning groups The Temptations and The Four Tops, The O’Jays, Lou Christie, The Drifters, Little Anthony and the Imperials, The NC Symphony, The Piedmont Wind Symphony of NC, and The Greensboro Symphony Orchestra.