Brandon Choi is a classical saxophonist who has continually expanded the boundaries of his instrument — reimagining the canon through the voice of the saxophone, while bridging the distance between the concert stage and the wider public. He completed the Prix de Perfectionnement at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon in France, before earning his Master’s degree and, as the youngest Korean ever to do so, a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music as a full scholarship recipient. His artistic voice emerged early through competition success, taking first prize at both the Cincinnati Competition and the Korea Music Association Competition, and second prize at the MTNA National Competition in the United States. A defining moment came with the world premiere of the Saxophone Concerto by Susan Botti — Guggenheim Fellow and professor at the Manhattan School of Music — performed with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra to critical acclaim. He has since become the first Korean classical saxophonist to give a recital at Lincoln Center in New York, with further appearances at the Blagoje Bersa Hall in Croatia, the Debussy Concert Hall in Lyon, Tower Records in Japan, and the National Theater of Taiwan, where he has continued to perform recitals and lead masterclasses on the international stage. In Korea, he has appeared as soloist with leading orchestras including the KBS Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra of Korea, the Suwon Philharmonic, the Incheon Philharmonic, the Busan Philharmonic, the Gwangju Symphony, the Changwon Philharmonic, the Cheonan Philharmonic, the Cheongju Philharmonic, the Gangnam Symphony, and the Hankyung arte Philharmonic — consistently introducing new possibilities for the saxophone concerto repertoire. His recordings have drawn equal attention. His 2024 album Beethoven was praised by critics as “a journey across the sea of breath,” recognized for the depth of its interpretation and richness of tone. Rachmaninoff (2023), a collaboration with Russian pianist Ilya Rashkovskiy, reimagined Rachmaninoff’s music through the saxophone’s lyrical language and was met with wide acclaim. Through additional albums including Saxophone Sonatas, Through Adam’s Fall, Dreaming, and Winter Serenade, he has continued to broaden the expressive territory of the classical saxophone. His concert tour with soprano Sumi Jo brought a singular dialogue between voice and saxophone to the stage, helping to elevate the public profile of the classical saxophone in Korea. His recital with conductor Han-Na Chang at the Daejeon Grand Festival also left a lasting impression on audiences. Through appearances on EBS Space Empathy (with Yunchan Lim and Brandon Choi), as well as SBS, KBS, MBC, and YTN — and through his own YouTube channel — he continues to share the beauty of the classical saxophone with broader audiences. He currently teaches at the College of Music, Seoul National University, and serves as President of the Classical Saxophone Association of Korea, where he champions the growth and recognition of the genre in his home country. He is also the founder, Music Director, and Conductor of the Brandon Saxophone Orchestra, through which he continues to explore new possibilities for the saxophone ensemble. In May 2026, he released his first essay collection, The One Who Quietly Continues — beginning a new chapter as a writer, sharing through prose the reflections on music and life that have long shaped his artistic voice.
Watch Brandon Jinwoo Choi perform Fantaisie sur un thème original by Jules Demersseman on the classical saxophone for the 2026 Instrumental Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.