Mia Gazley

A saxophonist from Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada, Mia Gazley received her undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia, studying saxophone under Dr. Julia Nolan, as well as her Masters degree from the University of Florida under Dr. Jonathan Helton. Mia has performed extensively with various groups in the Vancouver and Lower Mainland areas, including the Vancouver Jazz Legacy Orchestra, the Vancouver Jazz Orchestra, the Sister Jazz Orchestra, the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Saxophilia Quartet, the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra, and various other ensembles. She was part of the Greater Vancouver Youth Music Academy as a saxophone coach from 2014-2018 and assistant director for the wind ensembles from 2016-2018.
 

Chamber music has been a large part of her performing career, and Mia performs regularly with the Azura Quartet, of which she holds the baritone saxophone chair. The Azura Quartet competed regionally, provincially, and nationally in Canada in 2017, where they won first place in the chamber music division at all three competitions. The quartet was also involved in the Chan Centre of the Performing Arts' "Chanfare" series, where the Chan Centre commissioned composition students at the University of British Columbia to compose fanfares for select concerts. For two years, the Azura Quartet worked alongside composers and premiered several works, which can be heard on the Chan Centre website.

 

Mia has had the opportunity to work with several renowned saxophonists such as Dr. Frederick Hemke, Dr. Preston Duncan, Dr. Steven Stusek, Dr. Susan Fancher, Dr. Kenneth Tse, Dr. Kyle Horch, Dr. Allison Balcetis, Dr. James Houlik, and more. These experiences helped to shape the course of her musical journey.

 

As an active and avid performer in solo, chamber, and ensemble settings, having equipment that works for Mia is incredibly important to her. She is a Rousseau Mouthpiece Artist and uses them on all four saxophones for her classical playing, paired with D'Addario Organic Reserve reeds. For jazz playing, Mia currently uses JodyJazz mouthpieces.

 

As a researcher, Mia wishes to pursue a better understanding of the historical lineage of the saxophone in Japan. Much of her current research addresses the lack of accurate documentation regarding saxophonists and Japanese composers of saxophone music in Western literature. She has been studying possible translation errors that may exist, as well as understanding the impact of the political and cultural unrest in Japan during the 20th century. Mia is currently a contributor of the Japanese Saxophone Database, working alongside Nathan Mertens on providing accurate and easily accessible information on compositions for the saxophone by Japanese composers.

 

Mia works actively in the Vancouver music scene, and when she is not private teaching, gigging, or performing, she can be found on the board of the Vancouver Youth Music Foundation and the Executive Director of the Vancouver Youth Wind Symphony. Mia also holds one of the saxophone chairs of the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble.