Joseph Wytko (USA)

The first saxophonist recipient of the prestigious Solo Recitalist Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, Joseph Wytko has performed solo recitals in Carnegie Recital Hall, San Francisco's Herbst Theater, and has appeared as soloist with such orchestras as the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, the World Saxophone Congress Orchestra (Minneapolis), and orchestras in Europe and Mexico. Dr. Wytko has also performed as orchestral saxophonist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Grant Park Orchestra of Chicago, the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, and others. He recently contributed recorded music to the sound track of the newly released Paris film “L'Ombre de Goya.”

Solo recitals, masters classes and guest professorships have been presented in China, Poland, England, France, Italy, Belgium, Canada, Mexico, in Guam, in Los Angeles and New York, and throughout the United States. As a result of a Senior Scholar Grant from the International Research and Exchanges Board in Washington, D.C., Wytko has also been featured as solo recitalist, guest artist concerto soloist, and Guest Professor in Skopje, Macedonia. He has presented solo recitals and master classes at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique de Paris and performed as invited guest in 1993 in the historic East Room of the White House. Wytko holds the title Professor Emeritus at Arizona State University (where he taught 32 years after he received his doctorate from Northwestern University in 1975) and taught as Guest Professor of Music at the University of Georgia in 2010-11. He serves as Guest Professor at Kansas State University during Fall 2023.

Joseph Wytko has served as jurist for the 5th Concours International Adolphe Sax in Dinant, Belgium, for the 6th Concuro de Interpretacion in Morelia, Mexico, and in Poland and the U.S. for similar competitions. Listed in “Who's Who in America” and the subject of an article in the 2nd edition of the “New Grove Dictionary of American Music” (Oxford University Press), Dr. Wytko has contributed publications to the The Absolute Sound Magazine, The New Grove Dictionary of American Music, among others, and his recordings have been featured on United Airlines and U.S. Airways.

The San Francisco Chronicle has described Joseph Wytko as a “performer with astounding musicianship – virtuoso playing – a winner,” while the New York Times credits him with “vivid projection – effortless precision – charm and savoir-faire.” The Arizona Republic states simply, “flawless.”