Today we’d like to introduce you to Julian Sutherland.
Julian, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born and raised in Pocatello, ID. I found a love for music and the saxophone at the age of 12 with help from my dad, who has an extensive jazz and R&B collection that he shared with me. Since then, I continued my music education through high school and at Idaho State University for two years. In 2012, I moved to Denton, TX, to finish my undergraduate degree and later a Master’s in Jazz Studies: Performance. While at UNT, I played with the Two O’clock Lab Band under the direction of Jay Saunders, studied jazz saxophone with Brad Leali and classical saxophone with Dr. Eric Nestler.
After college, I went on tour throughout the U.S., Canada, and Japan with the World-Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra (2014-2015). I played alto sax and clarinet in over 300 shows that year. It was and awesome learning experience to play with talented musicians and travel the world. After I returned to the DFW metroplex, I became a freelance musician and worked with local jazz, funk, and cover bands in the area. Aside from playing gigs, I wanted to get into music education. I started teaching clinics and private lessons like I did through college and eventually started teaching lessons in the Denton, Plano, and Frisco School Districts. I’ve found that sharing the knowledge that I’ve learned throughout my career with younger, upcoming musicians is one of the most fulfilling parts of my career.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
UNT School of Music is very competitive. My freshman year, I started in the very bottom band (the 9 O’clock lab band) and I literally played in every single band working my way up to the 2 O’clock lab band. I played lead tenor one semester and recorded a double album on lead alto the next semester.
During college, I went to school full-time and had a part-time job as a janitor at a local bar near the University of North Texas on Fry Street. I cleaned from 5 am to 9 am every morning then went to class during the day. After classes, I would practice and then go play gigs in Dallas. I managed to advance in my career and also maintain my GPA. It wasn’t easy, but I learned so much about life through those challenging times. Whenever times get tough, I think back to these days and feel accomplished with how much I’ve grown.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I specialize in playing the saxophone. Whether it’s a live performance or recording session, I am most proud of the fact that I have been able to play my saxophone and make a decent living doing something I truly enjoy.
I am very proud of the students that I teach. It is very fulfilling to watch my students achieve milestones like make the Texas All-State/All-Area bands or go off to a college to study music. Even if they decide not to study music as a profession, it’s cool to know that they’ll always be able to play and use the tools from lessons to stay engaged in the music world.
What sets me apart from others is my ability to adapt in different situations. I play in many different bands with varying styles. I’ve been in small combo jazz settings, jazz big band, orchestras, R&B/Funk groups, latin, and musicals. I always try to bring a good attitude to the bandstand and maintain a high level of playing.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I try to stay on top of my craft so that I can adapt to any situation on stage. I always try to have a good attitude and be friendly with all my colleagues. Enjoying what you do while you’re doing it is very important to my success. I make sure to find opportunities to learn, practice, and engage in the music community to continue growing in my career.
Contact Info:
- Website: juliansutherlandmusic.com
- Email: juliansutherland1@gmail.com
- Instagram: jsowce
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