Meet The Judges

Dr. Sarah Dunbar is the Assistant Professor of Woodwinds at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX, where she teaches applied woodwind lessons, jazz improvisation, and woodwind instruments class. Originally from Seattle, WA, Dr. Dunbar holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Multiple Woodwind Instrument Performance with a related field in Performing Arts Health, a Master of Music degree in Multiple Woodwind Instrument Performance with a related field in Music Education, and a dual Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies and Classical Saxophone Performance from the University of North Texas. She also studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.

Dr. Dunbar maintains an active performance career, including recital appearances across the United States and Europe. Over the past five years, she has won prizes in eight international music competitions, performed twice as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, presented five solo recital performances throughout Austria, and performed as a soloist at the Beethoven House in Bonn, Germany. She regularly performs faculty recitals and concerts, as well as recitals at events such as the North American Saxophone Alliance Conferences, the American Single Reed Summit, the United States Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium, and College Music Society Conferences. Recent ensemble appearances include the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra, the Wichita Falls Symphony Jazz Band, and the Lone Star Wind Orchestra. She performed as principal saxophonist of the North Texas Wind Symphony, the UNT Symphony Orchestra, and the Two O’ Clock Lab Band, and recorded as a soloist on multiple albums produced by these ensembles during her time at the University of North Texas.

An advocate for performing arts health research, Dr. Dunbar conducted a study entitled, “Facial Muscle Patterns Across Woodwind Instruments,” using electromyography. She presented her findings at the 2019 Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA) International Symposium, winning second prize in the research competition. She will be presenting a workshop at the 2022 PAMA International Symposium and she holds a certification in “Performing Arts Medicine – Instrumental Music” from the Performing Arts Medicine Association.

Dr. Dunbar serves as the Jazz Representative on the board for the College Music Society – South Central Chapter (2021-2023) and is a member of the North American Saxophone Alliance, National Flute Association, Texas Music Educators Association, and Performing Arts Medicine Association. She is an Artist for Syos Music, based in Paris, France, and proudly performs on custom signature Syos mouthpieces.

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