Equally at home in the worlds of electronic music and Ibert, classical saxophonist Joey Speranzo is a musician on the rise. Finding Miami, FL to be the sunny home base for his burgeoning international career, private lesson studio, and passion for commissioning new works, Speranzo actively seeks out any opportunity that challenges his abilities.

In the realm of contemporary music, Speranzo has performed several world premieres of both solo and chamber repertoire. He first performed In the Underbrush for soprano saxophone and electronics by David Pegal in 2018 at the World Saxophone Congress in Zagreb, Croatia as part of an all-electronic solo recital. Speranzo has also worked closely with composer Ben Montgomery, commissioning multiple works including Machine for alto saxophone and electronics and Trio for baritone saxophone, horn and vibraphone. Speranzo’s performance of Machine was recently selected as one of six winners in RMN Records’ Call for Electroacoustic Works. The recording was released on an album produced by RMN Music and distributed on such platforms as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more. Furthermore, Speranzo traveled with Montgomery to New York City to perform Machine at the combined 2019 International Computer Music Conference and New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival. 

Speranzo completed his M.M. and A.D. in Saxophone Performance at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami under the instruction of world-renowned saxophonist Dale Underwood (US Navy Band, Ret.). During his stay, he was lucky enough to work closely with renowned conductor Dr. Robert Carnochan as part of the Frost Wind Ensemble. In addition, Speranzo was a member of the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, which is artistically directed by Maria Schneider. With this ensemble, Speranzo performed with artists such as Arturo Sandoval, Kirk Whalum, Donny McCaslin, and Monica Mancini.

Speranzo also enjoys performing with symphonic orchestras and has been a recurring guest with the Frost Symphony Orchestra. Among his more recent achievements, Speranzo was selected as a winner of the orchestra’s concerto competition in 2019 performing Radamés Gnattali’s Concertino for Alto Saxophone. The South Florida Classical Review praised “…his smooth technique and idiomatic command...” Other FSO orchestral appearances include the world premiere of James Stephenson’s Symphony No. 3 as well as the ever-popular Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky. He also has been a performer with the New World Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas.

In his spare time, Speranzo was a member of the Frost Saxophone Quartet which, in addition to being frequent performers at the International Saxophone Symposium, also regularly commissioned and premiered new works. Additionally, as the conductor of the Frost Saxophone Ensemble, Speranzo emphasized collaborations with renowned artists such as violinist Charles Castleman, Hollywood horn player Richard Todd, and pianist Priscila Navarro. Speranzo’s arrangements of major orchestral works, such as the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, are also being performed across the United States.

Joey Speranzo also has a decided aptitude for education and pedagogy. In addition to maintaining a thriving private lesson studio, he has served as adjunct faculty at Westminster Christian School and recently travelled to China to teach students and perform in a recital at Dulwich College Shanghai. As a teacher, Speranzo believes in maintaining a balance of self-expression, independence, and risk amongst his budding saxophonists. Furthermore, he internalizes the knowledge that in order to continue personal and musical growth, it is the responsibility of the teacher to continue to learn as much as the student. 

Joey Speranzo received his B.M. in Music Education with Performance Certificate at the Shenandoah Conservatory, where he studied with Dr. Timothy Roberts (US Navy Band, Ret.) and earned his Pre-K-12 Professional License from the Virginia Department of Education with an Instrumental Endorsement. While attending Shenandoah, Speranzo also was a member of the Wind Ensemble under Dr. Damon Talley and Dr. Timothy Robblee.