Richard Brasseale

Richard Brasseale is the Adjunct Professor of Classical Saxophone at Elmhurst University, teaching applied saxophone lessons, chamber music, and Woodwind Techniques.

An acclaimed saxophonist, he has played with numerous ensembles, including the Chicago Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Grant Park Festival Orchestra, Madison Symphony, Fulcrum Point New Music Ensemble, Camerata Chicago, and others. Recent solo performances include the DePaul Symphony Orchestra, North Park Orchestra, and various recitals across the country.

As a composer, Richard is vibrant and colorful. Recent commissions include the New World Symphony and the Chicago Fringe Opera. His upcoming projects include his second grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, recording a classical album of his own original work, Pilgrimage. His piece, The Hardest Part won the People’s Choice Award for the National Saxophone Museum’s Creative Saxophone Expression Prize. He premiered his piece, On Coming Out, at the 2020 North American Saxophone Alliance Conference in Tempe, Arizona.

In addition to his position at Elmhurst University, Richard currently teaches Applied Classical Saxophone Instruction, Woodwind Methods, and Chamber Music classes at North Park University, where he recently was awarded a NETVUE Grant for Development in Vocation.

He received his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Saxophone Performance from DePaul University, where he won both the Wind Symphony and the Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competitions. He has also been to Brevard Music Festival, where he was a fellow of the ITCH New Music Ensemble and performed with the symphonies there. His primary teachers include Jeremy Ruthrauff, Susan Cook, and Joe Lulloff. In his free time, Richard enjoys hiking, running, coffee, and being an expert four-leaf clover finder.