Kyle Hutchins, 35 / Assistant Professor of Practice, Virginia Tech
Kyle Hutchins is an internationally acclaimed saxophonist, composer and dedicated educator as Assistant Professor of Practice at Virginia Tech since 2016. His pursuit of musical excellence led to Doctor of Musical Arts (2015) and Master of Music (2013) degrees from the University of Minnesota, alongside Bachelors of Music in performance (2011) and Bachelors of Music Education (2011) degrees from the University of North Texas. Hutchins’ achievements span over two dozen recorded albums, global performances and premiering more than 200 new works for the saxophone. Recognized by prestigious organizations with awards and grants, he collaborates with leading composers and performers, including Eugene Rousseau, Eric Nestler, Marcus Weiss and James Dillon. He is Director of the New Music + Technology Festival, attracting regional, national and international participants. “I love playing music and organizing musical events in the community!” he says. “It's great to see so many people around town who enjoy listening and participating in the scene and I hope everyone will come say hi at the next gig!”
Career Achievements/Highlights:
- Internationally acclaimed saxophonist, composer and professor
- Performed and taught masterclasses across five continents
- Over two dozen recorded albums on various labels
- Recognized with awards and grants from prestigious organizations
- Specialist in experimental performance practice and electroacoustic new music
- Premiered over 200 new works for the saxophone
- Collaborated with leading composers and performers in the field
Teaching Role:
- Assistant Professor of Practice in the School of Performing Arts and Director of the New Music + Technology Festival at the Institute of Creativity, Arts and Technology at Virginia Tech
- Presented masterclasses and lectures at major institutions worldwide
- Organized pedagogical clinics and workshops at prominent conferences and associations
Community Involvement:
- Volunteer performances and education at numerous local high schools, colleges and retirement communities
- Founder and active participant in various music projects, including 113 (One Thirteen), Binary Canary and the surf rock/exotica band Cinémathèque
From the Nomination: “Hailed as 'epic' (Jazz Times), 'formidable' (The Saxophone Symposium) and 'gripping' (Star Tribune), saxophonist/composer/professor Kyle Hutchins is an internationally acclaimed performing artist and improviser. He has performed concerts and taught masterclasses across five continents at major festivals and venues in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Mexico, Scotland, South Korea and across the United States including Carnegie Hall, The Walker Art Center, World Saxophone Congress, Internationales Musikinstitut Darmstadt, International Computer Music Conference, among many others. He has recorded over two dozen albums on labels such as Carrier, Klavier, GIA, farpoint, Mother Brain and his work has been recognized by awards and grants from DOWNBEAT, New Music USA, The American Prize, American Protégé International Competition, Music Teachers National Association, Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation and others. As a specialist in experimental performance practice and electroacoustic new music, Hutchins has performed well over 200 world premieres of new works for the saxophone. He has worked with some of the leading composers and performers of our time including Pauline Oliveros, George Lewis, Chaya Czernowin, Georges Aperghis, Richard Barrett, Steven Takasugi, Claire Chase, Douglas Ewart, Duo Gelland and Zeitgeist. Over the past fifteen years, Hutchins has built long standing collaborations and championed the music of many close collaborators such as Ted Moore, Tiffany M. Skidmore, Joey Crane, Emily Lau, Elizabeth A. Baker, Eric Lyon and many more wonderful artists and dear friends. ...
Roanoke resident Hutchins may be relatively new to the area, but even before making our City his home, he had tapped-in to the musical heartbeat of The Star City. He’s performed at The Grandin Theatre, Martin’s Downtown, Parkway Brewing, Twisted Track, The Taubman Museum of Art, Fork in the Alley, The Berglund Center, The Spot on Kirk, Fishburn Mansion, Golden Cactus Brewing and at Roanoke College. Further afield and with his colleagues in the local multi-genre band Cinémathèque, he has performed in Blacksburg at Eastern Divide and The Milk Parlor, Ix Art Park in Charlottesville and Crozet Park, as well as other venues. Hutchins is already booked to play Floydfest next year. For the past six seasons he has been the Director of the VT New Music + Technology Festival which attracts regional, national, & international visitors. Hutchins also directs the annual VT Woodwind Day, bringing-in students from across our region for a day of cost-free learning and performances. He then brings the students to Roanoke to perform, through partnerships with The Taubman and The Jefferson Center.
Hutchins is uniquely committed to artistic excellence. A harder-working artist, of any genre, is difficult to imagine — he really never stops and his personal excellence is evident in each new venture. Whether he’s training new generations of musicians at VT; performing a concert in Roanoke or some distant part of Europe; recording a new album with other world-renowned musicians; opening new minds to the world of music at a local high school; or performing around the region with Cinémathèque, Hutchins delivers excellence. Hutchins' astonishing musical acumen is only exceeded by his kindness. He’s approachable and brings a big, authentic smile to every interaction. I’ve spoken to him several times, after performances at The Cube (Moss Arts Center) and have always been impressed with his warmth. He’s always welcoming and genuinely interested in what others have to say. He exudes the humility and the gratitude of a true star. What’s more, Hutchins is hilarious, which cuts-through the tension, putting everyone he meets, at ease. What a sense of humor and with brain-power like his, he never misses a punch-line. I can hardly believe he’s only 35! What an asset to our community!
Much, if not most, of what Hutchins does, is, in fact, volunteer work. He involves himself in these ways because he is so committed to the arts and in support of the notion that the arts help make our Valley an attractive place to live and to visit. Hutchins has accepted invitations to perform and to help educate students at many of our local high schools, including Community High, Patrick Henry, Northside and Hidden Valley. He’s also volunteered to perform at high schools in Floyd, Christiansburg, Blacksburg and Radford, (including at Radford University). He’s performed several times at Warm Hearth Village, a retirement community, in Blacksburg.
I first became acquainted with Hutchins through his frequent (pro bono) performances at Art Rat Studios in Roanoke and was instantly mesmerized! Art Rat is a private performance space / visual arts studio hidden in the bowels of the old Riverdale Viscose Plant and is the brainchild of local artists, Brian Counihan and Ralph Eaton. Several years ago, Eaton began offering the studio/warehouse space to performers interested in sound experimentation, or as Hutchins describes it: 'experimental performance practice and electro/acoustic new music.' Hutchins has generously offered his name, considerable credentials, impressive reputation and amazing talent, with at least ten performances at Art Rat over the last several years including afterMAF, which is an “underground”, 3-day line-up of various performing artists, 'after' the Marginal Arts Festival (now, the Daisy Art Parade). In fact, Hutchins is scheduled to perform at Art Rat Studios on October 5, 2023 with his colleague composer/performer/professor Charles Nichols. The New Music genre in Roanoke is greatly expanded thanks to Hutchins' participation. I was so delighted when Hutchins (and Pepper, his miniature Dachshund), decided to buy a home here in Roanoke City. We’re lucky to have him here and I’m honored to have such a rare talent and such an admirable human being, as a friend and neighbor.”
What do you love about Roanoke?
“Roanoke is a great place to live with a vibrant community, great restaurants, beautiful scenery and a hip arts scene. You don't have to look very hard to find great music happening all over town on any given night!”
How does your passion impact our community?
“I love playing music and organizing musical events in the community! It's great to see so many people around town who enjoy listening and participating in the scene and I hope everyone will come say hi at the next gig!”