Home Audio Links

Full biography/Curriculum Vita

Education

University of South Florida, class of 2000
   Masters of Music, jazz studies (graduated with 4.0 GPA)
Clarinet studies at the Konservatorium der Stadt Wien, Vienna, Austria
Hope College, class of 1998 summa cum laude, Trustee Scholar, winner of Outstanding Senior Artist Award
   Bachelor of Music, saxophone performance
   Bachelor of Arts, mathematics

Studied with:

Saxophone: Joseph Lulloff (Michigan State University), Donell Snyder (Michigan State University), Rich Pancrantz (Chicago freelance musician), Jack Wilkins (University of South Florida), Brian Coyle (Hope College)
Clarinet: S. Russell Floyd (Hope College) Roger Salander (Vienna Philharmonic), Kristin Ward (Hope College)
Flute: Chris Kantner (Grand Rapids symphony), Jill Heyboer (Michigan State University), Kim McCormick (Florida Orchestra), Julie Sooy (Hope College, West Shore Sym.)
Oboe: Nancy Summers (West Shore Symphony)
Piano: Virginia Anderson (private teacher, Illinois), Rich Pancrantz (Chicago freelancer), Joan Conway (Hope College)
Voice: Stuart Sharp (Hope College)
Bassoon: Kevin Fuller (Florida Orchestra), Steven Ward (Hope College)
Percussion: Brett Kuhn (Cavaliers drum and bugle corps)
Composition: Brian Coyle (Hope college), Chuck Owen (University of South Florida)

Professional experience (highlights)

  US Air Force Academy Band
US Air Force Band of Mid-America
World Saxophone Congress XII featured performer
North American Saxophone Alliance concerto soloist
International Association of Jazz Educators
Holland Symphony concerto soloist
Long Beach Symphony concerto soloist
Rene Fleming
Phil Woods
Randy Brecker
Sammy Nestico
Kenny Wheeler
Sam Rivers
Manhattan Transfer
New York Voices

Bob Newhart
Shirley Jones
Barry Manilow
Ben E. King
Harry Connick, Sr.
The Temptations
Martin Short
Marvin Stamm
Shelley Berg
The Nelson Riddle Orchestra
The Grand Rapids Symphony
The Florida Orchestra
The Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra
West Shore Symphony (Muskegon, MI)
Disney World Magic Kingdom Band
Busch Gardens International Band

Shows: (*national touring company) (** music director)

  42nd Street*
Jolson*
The Titanic*
Bremen Town Musicians**
Footloose**
Honk!**
The Ugly Duckling**
Annie
Anything Goes
Baby!
Barnum
Cabaret
Candide
Cole

Grease
Guys and Dolls
Gypsy
Kiss Me, Kate
The Man of La Mancha
Merrily We Roll Along
The Music Man
Oklahoma
Return to the Forbidden Planet
Singin' in the Rain
Smoky Joe's Cafe
Steel Pier
Suds
Sweeny Todd

Teaching and professional positions held

Musician, US Air Force Band of Mid-America (2014-present)
Duties: Pianist, composer/arranger, saxophonist/woodwinds, Operations Representative

Saxophone Instructor, McKendree University (2015-present)
Duties: saxophone instructor, sax quartet coach, accompanist, webmaster

Musician, US Air Force Academy Band (2006-2014)
Duties: Concert band saxophonist, jazz band saxophonist, marching band piccolo player, composer/arranger, webmaster, supply technician

Instructor, Adams State University (2007-2014)
Duties: saxophone and clarinet instructor, saxophone quartet coach, jazz combo coach as needed

Instructor, Harrison High School (2007-2014)
Duties: percussion caption head and arranger, winter drumline caption head and arranger, private lessons, woodwind sectionals

Instructor, Broadmoor Academy of Music (2006-2013)
Teaching Duties: private saxophone and jazz flute instructor

Lecturer, Hope College department of music (2000-2006)
Teaching Duties: Private saxophone, Music Theory, Aural Skills, Music Appreciation, Piano skills, Jazz Combo Instructor, Interim Percussion Ensemble coach

Instructor, Mona Shores High School (1997-2002)
Teaching Duties: Composer for percussion parts, percussion instructor, woodwind sectional coach

Instructor, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (2001-2006)
Teaching Duties: Director of "Blue" jazz band, woodwind player in Blue Lake Faculty jazz quartet, improvisation classes, technique classes, saxophone sectionals

Music Director, Hope Summer Repertory Theater (2000-2001)
Duties: Vocal and instrumental coach during rehearsals Conductor and piano player during performances

Instructor, Aquinas College Jazz Camp (2003-2006)
Duties: Jazz combo coach, saxophone master class instructor, ear training class instructor, saxophonist in faculty group

Musician, Disney World Magic Kingdom Band (1999-2000)
Duties: marching band saxophonist and clarinettist, saxophone quintet "Fantasy Land Five" saxophonist

Musician, Busch Gardens International Show Band (1999-2000)
Duties: show band saxophonist and clarinettist

Private lesson and master class teaching experience at the college, high school and junior high school levels

Commissions/premiers

Concerto for saxophone and orchestra, Lewis Spratlan
Concerto for saxophone and concert band or orchestra, Kenneth Fuchs
Concerto for Saxophones and chamber orchestra, Benjamin R. Furhman
Compass for saxophone quartet by David Rakowski
Awake, Alive, Amok for saxophone quartet by Ben Hjertmann
Prism Chain for tenor saxophone, flute, and marimba by Benjamin R. Furhman
Homages for saxophone and piano, Will Gay Bottje
Transcriptions for saxophone and string quartet, John McDonald
The Lion, the Artist, and the Jester for alto saxophone, cello and piano by Charles Frazin
Plum Blossoms for saxophone and piano, Shih-Hui Chen

Honors/Awards/Miscellaneous

Graduate Scholarship and accompanying Fellowship award, University of South Florida, 1998
Flute solo book published through Mel Bay, inc. (To view a full list of compositions and arrangements, click here.)
Outstanding Senior Artist Award, Hope College, 1998
Two-time Concerto Competition winner, Hope College: 1995, 1997
National Merit Scholar, 1994
Trustee Scholar, Hope College, 1994

References

For reasons of privacy, I will not post a list of recommendations on the open web. If you would like references, email me and I would be happy to supply them for you.

email Ryan Janus