Connor Dunford (b. 2006) is a saxophonist, composer, and educator studying Music Education at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. As one of the youngest published composers of band and orchestral music, Connor intends to offer a fresh musical voice that is engaging for musicians and audiences alike. Many of his compositions, which are published by Alfred MakeMusic Publications and Wingert-Jones Publications, have appeared on the BandWorld Top 100 List and are JW Pepper Editors’ Choice Selections. Additionally, his pieces have been performed in new music reading sessions at major state and university conferences across the country. Frequently commissioned, he has worked with bands throughout the United States, and often engages as a conductor and educator in clinics on his compositions.
As a saxophonist, Connor performs with the James Madison University Wind Symphony, Madison Saxophone Quartet, Jazz Band, and the Marching Royal Dukes. His saxophone instructors have included Dr. Sheldon Johnson (Radford University), Wayne Tice (West Point Band), and David Pope (James Madison University). Professional affiliations as a composer and educator include the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA). After university, Connor plans to continue to compose and arrange music, along with beginning his career as a public school music educator.
