Teaching Philosophy: My goal as a teacher is to empower my students to lead creative lives regardless of their chosen discipline or career path. I believe that curiosity and collaboration are paramount in the development of a unique and adaptable skill set for our ever-changing music world. Further, I create an environment where authenticity and diversity are honored as integral to the progress and artistry of each student.
Within the applied studio, I continually tailor instruction to the individual and work to prioritize student centered learning in order to foster students’ self efficacy. I strive to balance a student’s core fundamentals with repertoire,
transcriptions, and arrangements that are catered towards their interests and needs. As a part of their regular instruction and practice, these projects spark a curiosity for learning, create intrinsic motivation, and empower the student to design and lead
their own creative projects. Improvisation and exploration provides students exciting new avenues for expression and for building confidence. Within the applied and studio settings, I incorporate improvisation as a tool for increasing students comfort level in all performance settings and for cultivating community and collaborative skills.
During my time at the University of Illinois as a classical and jazz saxophone instructor, I consistently ranked as an Outstanding Teacher on the university’s Teachers Ranked as Excellent list.
As a music educator, I have the opportunity to develop lifelong connections with students and the responsibility to provide a safe, respectful, and affirming learning environment. Each opportunity to work with a student is one to build trust and mutual respect through genuine interest in the students’ goals, coursework, and overall well being. With each of my students, it is important that they not only set short and long term goals, but learn independence in this process.
I believe clear communication results in a studio culture of healthy conversation and lifelong connections. While coaching chamber ensembles at the University of Illinois, I facilitated shared leadership where each member would take turns leading rehearsal. This method created an even
ground for the ensemble where each member could feel safe to voice their opinion.
As a lifelong learner, I regularly re-examine my effectiveness as a teacher and my work as an artist to better serve my students. I continually prioritize curiosity, communication and creativity as core elements in my own professional development and I take pride in growing alongside my
students and imparting the tools needed to live long fulfilled musical-lives.
Described as an “Admirably skilled player” (The News-Gazette), Boston based saxophonist WILSON POFFENBERGER is quickly establishing himself as a soloist, educator, chamber musician and improviser. Currently, Mr. Poffenberger is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in saxophone performance and literature at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where he recently received ABD status.
As a soloist, Mr. Poffenberger has performed with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Illinois Modern Ensemble, Illinois Wind Symphony, Dana Symphony Orchestra, Youngstown State University Percussion Ensemble, and Hagerstown Municipal Band. He has presented recitals at the National Student Electronic Music Event, XVIII World Saxophone Congress in Zagreb,Croatia, EMS60 Conference, Splice New Music Festival, International Navy Band Saxophone Symposium, North American Saxophone Alliance Biannual Conference, Duquesne Saxophone Day, the Fondation des Etats-Unis and the Fondation Bierman-Lapotre.
Recent accomplishments include first prize at the 2020 UI Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, first prize at the 2020 American Prize Chamber Music Competition, first prize at the 2020 North American Saxophone Alliance Quartet Competition, silver medal at the 2019
Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, first prize at the 2019 Mostly Modern Festival Concerto Competition, first prize at the 2019 Krannert Debut Artist Competition, grand prize at the 2017 Enkor International Woodwind and Brass Competition, winner of the 2016-2017
Harriet Hale Woolley award, first prize at the 2014 Dana Young Artist competition, semi-finalist in the 2014 International Saxophone Symposium and Competition, and semi-finalist in the 2018 and 2014 North American Saxophone Alliance Collegiate Solo Competition.
A strong advocate for new music, Mr. Poffenberger has premiered and commissioned dozens of works by composers such as Étienne Rolin, Guillermo Lago, Gregory Wanamaker, Joel Love, David Biedenbender, Ralph Lewis, Elsie Han, Robert Lemay, Alexis Bacon, Vahid Jahandari, Andrew Koss, Drew Farrar, Carolyn Borcherding, Alex Miller, and Aaron Lockhart.
Mr. Poffenberger received his Masters of Music degree from Youngstown State University and his Bachelors of Music Education degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with additional study at CRR Boulogne-Billancourt in Paris, France. He has performed in masterclasses with Otis Murphy, Chien-Kwan Lin, Michael Ibrahim, Timothy McAllister, Vincent David, Claude Delangle, Arno Bornkamp, Masataka Hirano, and Christian Wirth. His
primary teachers include Debra Richtmeyer, Jean-Michel Goury, James Umble, and Keith Young. Mr. Poffenberger performs exclusively on Selmer Paris saxophones and mouthpieces.
When Wilson’s not playing saxophone, you can find him brewing pour-over coffee, tinkering with his Sony mirrorless camera or watching copious amounts of backpack reviews on YouTube.
Wilson has been teaching since 2013 and has been with Note-worthy Experiences since September 2021, where he teaches saxophone and clarinet.
Within the applied studio, I continually tailor instruction to the individual and work to prioritize student centered learning in order to foster students’ self efficacy. I strive to balance a student’s core fundamentals with repertoire,
transcriptions, and arrangements that are catered towards their interests and needs. As a part of their regular instruction and practice, these projects spark a curiosity for learning, create intrinsic motivation, and empower the student to design and lead
their own creative projects. Improvisation and exploration provides students exciting new avenues for expression and for building confidence. Within the applied and studio settings, I incorporate improvisation as a tool for increasing students comfort level in all performance settings and for cultivating community and collaborative skills.
During my time at the University of Illinois as a classical and jazz saxophone instructor, I consistently ranked as an Outstanding Teacher on the university’s Teachers Ranked as Excellent list.
As a music educator, I have the opportunity to develop lifelong connections with students and the responsibility to provide a safe, respectful, and affirming learning environment. Each opportunity to work with a student is one to build trust and mutual respect through genuine interest in the students’ goals, coursework, and overall well being. With each of my students, it is important that they not only set short and long term goals, but learn independence in this process.
I believe clear communication results in a studio culture of healthy conversation and lifelong connections. While coaching chamber ensembles at the University of Illinois, I facilitated shared leadership where each member would take turns leading rehearsal. This method created an even
ground for the ensemble where each member could feel safe to voice their opinion.
As a lifelong learner, I regularly re-examine my effectiveness as a teacher and my work as an artist to better serve my students. I continually prioritize curiosity, communication and creativity as core elements in my own professional development and I take pride in growing alongside my
students and imparting the tools needed to live long fulfilled musical-lives.
Described as an “Admirably skilled player” (The News-Gazette), Boston based saxophonist WILSON POFFENBERGER is quickly establishing himself as a soloist, educator, chamber musician and improviser. Currently, Mr. Poffenberger is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in saxophone performance and literature at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where he recently received ABD status.
As a soloist, Mr. Poffenberger has performed with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Illinois Modern Ensemble, Illinois Wind Symphony, Dana Symphony Orchestra, Youngstown State University Percussion Ensemble, and Hagerstown Municipal Band. He has presented recitals at the National Student Electronic Music Event, XVIII World Saxophone Congress in Zagreb,Croatia, EMS60 Conference, Splice New Music Festival, International Navy Band Saxophone Symposium, North American Saxophone Alliance Biannual Conference, Duquesne Saxophone Day, the Fondation des Etats-Unis and the Fondation Bierman-Lapotre.
Recent accomplishments include first prize at the 2020 UI Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, first prize at the 2020 American Prize Chamber Music Competition, first prize at the 2020 North American Saxophone Alliance Quartet Competition, silver medal at the 2019
Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, first prize at the 2019 Mostly Modern Festival Concerto Competition, first prize at the 2019 Krannert Debut Artist Competition, grand prize at the 2017 Enkor International Woodwind and Brass Competition, winner of the 2016-2017
Harriet Hale Woolley award, first prize at the 2014 Dana Young Artist competition, semi-finalist in the 2014 International Saxophone Symposium and Competition, and semi-finalist in the 2018 and 2014 North American Saxophone Alliance Collegiate Solo Competition.
A strong advocate for new music, Mr. Poffenberger has premiered and commissioned dozens of works by composers such as Étienne Rolin, Guillermo Lago, Gregory Wanamaker, Joel Love, David Biedenbender, Ralph Lewis, Elsie Han, Robert Lemay, Alexis Bacon, Vahid Jahandari, Andrew Koss, Drew Farrar, Carolyn Borcherding, Alex Miller, and Aaron Lockhart.
Mr. Poffenberger received his Masters of Music degree from Youngstown State University and his Bachelors of Music Education degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with additional study at CRR Boulogne-Billancourt in Paris, France. He has performed in masterclasses with Otis Murphy, Chien-Kwan Lin, Michael Ibrahim, Timothy McAllister, Vincent David, Claude Delangle, Arno Bornkamp, Masataka Hirano, and Christian Wirth. His
primary teachers include Debra Richtmeyer, Jean-Michel Goury, James Umble, and Keith Young. Mr. Poffenberger performs exclusively on Selmer Paris saxophones and mouthpieces.
When Wilson’s not playing saxophone, you can find him brewing pour-over coffee, tinkering with his Sony mirrorless camera or watching copious amounts of backpack reviews on YouTube.
Wilson has been teaching since 2013 and has been with Note-worthy Experiences since September 2021, where he teaches saxophone and clarinet.
