Saxophone Studio
meet the studio
The University of Georgia Saxophone Studio consists of students from many states with a variety of interests, majors, and backgrounds. Click on a photo or scroll below to learn more about our students.
Studio Bios
Tan Yun Qu
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Doctor of Musical Arts
Tan Yun Qu is a Singaporean musician and currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Georgia while serving as the saxophone studio teaching assistant. Thriving on collaboration, Yun Qu was a member of the award winning Cadeaux Quartet, winner of the 1st Prize for the North American Saxophone Alliance Quartet Competition in 2024. The quartet was also involved in multiple collaborations with critically-acclaimed American composer Stacy Garrop where they premiered and recorded two of her works, The Solitude of Stars and Repair the World arranged for saxophone quartet. Together with Cadeaux Quartet, she was a part of the Northwestern University New Music Conference 2023 where they workshopped and premiered new works by selected composers. As a soloist, Yun Qu has also won awards at numerous competitions such as the Sugree Charoensook International Music Competition 2021 (1st Prize) and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Concerto Competition 2022 (Grand Prize Winner).
As a music educator, Yun Qu’s teaching experience extends to private students, wind band sectional coaching and undergraduate students. She was also invited to serve as faculty for the Asia Pacific Saxophone Academy (APSA) 2024 summer camp held in Bangkok where she taught participants from all around the globe including Korea, Japan, China and Australia. As an intern of APSA since 2018, she has been involved in the organization of the program which hosts over 150 international students and faculty, including the internationally-acclaimed saxophonists such as Nobuya Sugawa, Jean-Yves Fourmeau and Taimur Sullivan.
Also having an interest in ethnomusicology, Yun Qu has had the opportunity to present her research paper: Singapore’s Manufactured Identity and its Impact on Local Musicians at the Association of Asian Studies Conference 2023 held in Boston as well as at the Taiwan Musicology Forum 2023.
Yun Qu is currently under the tutelage of Brandon Quarles, her past saxophone teachers have been Taimur Sullivan and Leslie Wong. She holds the Master of Music degree from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.
Ashley Emerton
4th Year, Bachelor of Music in Music Education
Ashley Emerton (she/her) is from the small town of Bremen, Georgia, and is a fourth-year student at UGA pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. She chose to major in Music Education because music has always been her refuge, and she aspires to provide that same safe space for her future students. Ashley will student teach in the Spring, and her goal is to teach elementary music so she can inspire a love for music in the next generation. She is currently a member of the UGA Wind Symphony and was previously a member of the UGA Symphonic Band. The highlight of her experience at UGA was premiering a piece written by a UGA composition student for her and her quartet. During her time in high school, Ashley’s musical achievements included performances with the GMEA District VII Honor Band and the Georgia All-State Band, where she earned first chair twice. Ashley was also a member of the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony and participated in the 2021 Interlochen Saxophone Intensive with Dr. Timothy McAllister. Outside of music, Ashley enjoys crocheting, spending time with her three dogs—Rosie, Brownie, and Daisy—baking, gardening, and cooking.
Maddi Finn
4th Year, Bachelor of Music in Music Theory
Maddi Finn is a fourth-year student at UGA from Buffalo, NY pursuing a Bachelor of Music inMusic Theory. With intentions of pursuing a doctorate in music theory, her primary research interests include Schenkerian analysis, the musical influence of species counterpoint, and the integration of Schenkerian hierarchical structuring in early aural skills pedagogy. At UGA, Maddi has held an assistantship for music theory levels II and III, she teaches theory privately, and she has designed a rudimentary theory course for the UGA Community Music School. Maddi is also an active member of the Society for Music Theory, participating in both regional and national conferences. Maddi’s saxophone and theory journeys began at the Eastman School of Music’s Community Music School where she was first exposed to exceptional musical mentorship and was inspired to pursue a career in music.. A recent passion of Maddi’s has been transcribing early Romantic period works for the saxophone,and she is thrilled to offer a recital entirely of transcriptions this spring. Outside of music, Maddi enjoys Schutzhund training with her German Shepherd, Otto, and she has a fondness for makeup and fashion. Maddi’s primary saxophone instructors have included Anne Kunkle, Connie Frigo, and Brandon Quarles.
Sadie Landon
4th Year, Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy
Sadie Landon is a fourth-year undergraduate Music Therapy major from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Sadie currently plays in UGA’s Symphonic Band and the Redcoat Marching Band. Before attending UGA, Sadie found her passion for marching band while a member of the Wando High School Marching Band. The band has won many regional championships and holds the South Carolina record for wins at the state championship – fourteen in a row. Individually, Sadie played in the Rose Parade and at Disneyland through Bands of America. She studied saxophone privately with Dr. Neal Postma and Dr. Mark Sterbank of Charleston Southern University. As a music therapy student, Sadie has worked with many different populations, from adults with intellectual disabilities to children with autism, and hopes to support these populations in their goals through using music. In her spare time, she is a swim instructor and lifeguard and loves to play Dungeons and Dragons with her friends.
Bridget Sheridan
4th Year, Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and German, Music Minor and History Minor
Bridget Sheridan (she/her) is a fourth-year student at the University of Georgia majoring in International Affairs and German with minors in Music and History. She is a member of the UGA Wind Ensemble and the Redcoat Marching Band, in which she serves as section leader and rank leader. Bridget is from Fairfax, Virginia, where she studied saxophone with Ed Fraedrich and taught private saxophone lessons for four years. She is a former member of the Virginia Winds Academy and All-Virginia Symphonic Band and has performed at the Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium. She is a founding member of the Kappa Gamma chapter of Tau Beta Sigma and is passionate about exploring the intersections between music and other academic disciplines. Outside of saxophone, Bridget is a member of the Richard B. Russell Security Leadership Program at the Center for International Trade and Security and enjoys reading, listening to music, and learning languages.
Aidan Eclavea
3rd Year, Bachelor of Music in Music Education (Voice) and Bachelor of Arts in Music (Saxophone)
Aidan Eclavea (he/him), a native of Martinez, GA, is a passionate vocalist, saxophonist, and conductor entering his third year as a double major in BM Music Education and AB Music at the University of Georgia. He currently studies voice with Dr. Amy Petrongelli and saxophone with Dr. Brandon Quarles. Through his studies, he has been a member of the UGA Wind Symphony, the UGA Men’s Glee Club, and the Hodgson Singers. He also performs with the Ducks Here We Come Saxophone Quartet and the Chapel Bells Barbershop Quartet. As a member of the Redcoat Marching Band, he has been able to travel across the country to cheer on the Dawgs! Outside of the Hugh, Aidan has had the opportunity to perform with the Atlanta Choral Artists, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and Andrea Bocelli. As a composer/arranger, he has written for high school show choirs, civic orchestras, and the Redcoat Marching Band. An aspiring conductor, Aidan has received recent appointments such as the Assistant Conductor of the North Georgia Saxophone Ensemble, a Guest Conductor of the Garden City Rhapsody, and the Music Director for UGA BCM Spring Dessert Theatre. Active in the music education field, he frequently assists programs as an instructor in the classroom and on the marching field. Aidan is a member of cNAfME, GMEA, ACDA, and is an HHSOM Student Ambassador.
Emily Johnson
3rd Year, Bachelor of Music in Music Education
Emily Johnson is a third-year music education student from Cumming, GA. She graduated from North Forsyth High School where she was actively involved in her band program. During her time at North Forsyth, she performed in the Wind Ensemble, was drum major of the Raider Marching band for two years, performed in the GMEA District IX honor band, and the UGA JanFest band She also interned with the North Forsyth Middle school band throughout her senior year. At UGA, she is a dedicated and active member of the Redcoat Marching Band where she marches tenor saxophone, and the UGA Symphonic Band. Emily is a member of UGA’s Iota Zeta chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, CNAfME, and GMEA. Outside of classes and activities, she is part of Beech Haven Church’s worship team where she plays saxophone and piano. Emily aims to cultivate a love for music in children and eventually teach elementary music.
Jackson Tadlock
3rd Year, Bachelor of Arts in Music and Bachelor of Science in Ocean Science
Jackson Tadlock (she/her) is a third-year student at the University of Georgia majoring in Ocean Sciences and A.B. Music with a minor in Ecology. She plays in the UGA Symphonic Band and is a drum major for the Redcoat Marching Band. She also enjoys performing chamber music with the Ducks Quartet, made up of her fellow third-year saxophone studio members. Jackson is from Taylorsville, Georgia where she studied saxophone with Marc Johnson and was active in music throughout high school. She performed with the Woodland High School Saxophone Quartet and Wind Symphony and earned spots in both GMEA district and all-state honor bands. Jackson is involved in leadership and service as well. She is the Vice President of Membership for the Iota Zeta chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota and serves as a student ambassador for the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. In these roles, she loves supporting her peers, welcoming new students, and sharing her passion for music.
Jon Erik Tripp
3rd Year, Bachelor of Music in Music Education
Jon Erik Tripp (he/him) is a junior Music Education major from Lavonia, Georgia, where he graduated from Franklin County High School. Currently, Jon Erik is a member of UGA’s Redcoat Band, where he serves as one of the Horn Sergeants as well as Section Leader for the Alto Saxophones. Two of his favorite memories at Georgia include attending the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, and performing with the UGA Wind Ensemble for the John Williams Concert! During his time at UGA, Jon Erik hopes to grow and inspire young students to participate and support the arts, as he believes that the lessons learned within the musical classroom are invaluable to the world of education.
Antonio Aguilar
2nd Year, Bachelor of Music in Music Education
Antonio Aguilar is a second-year Music Education major at The University of Georgia. He serves on the leadership team for the Redcoat Marching Band and plays for the UGA Symphonic Band. He is from Vidalia, Georgia, and graduated from Vidalia High School, where he was actively involved in the SoundTribes marching, concert, and jazz bands and served as Woodwind Captain. During his high school career, Antonio was selected to perform in groups such as the GMEA District 1 Honor Band, GMEA District 1 Jazz Band, Sweet Onion Area Honor Band, and the John Philip Sousa Honor Band, which further honed his skills and deepened his passion for music. He is committed to refining his musicianship and aims to inspire and educate future students by blending his love for music with a dedication to teaching. Antonio looks forward to a career where he can make a meaningful impact on his students and the broader musical community, helping others achieve their best while fostering a lifelong appreciation for music.
Maggie Watson
2nd Year, Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Bachelor of Arts in Voice
Maggie Watson is a second-year Music Education and AB Music in Voice major at The University of Georgia. She is an ambassador for the Hugh Hodgson School of Music (HHSOM) and is an active member of the Symphonic Band, Women’s Glee Club, and Redcoat Marching Band.
A native of Roswell, Georgia, and a graduate of Centennial High School, she was a two-year Drum Major for the Centennial Knights Marching Band. Her experience as a drum major inspired her to become a music educator, as she hopes to foster the growth of young musicians. She is proud to have been a part of various honor ensembles, including District 5 Honor Band and Chorus, Fulton County Honor Band, and All-State Chorus. She is excited to continue mastering her voice and saxophone and believes music is an art that should be accessible to everyone.
Manya Das
1st Year, Bachelor of Arts in Music and Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Manya Das (she/her) is a first-year undergraduate student at UGA pursuing a double major in Music and Psychology. She grew up in Marietta, GA and graduated from Campbell High School. During her time at Campbell, she performed with the school’s various ensembles including Saxophone Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Marching Band. She has won awards such as the Woody Herman Jazz Award, John Philip Sousa Award, and the Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence issued by the US Marines Youth Foundation. She was selected to perform in the GMEA District Honor Band and Jazz Band, GMEA All-State Band, Georgia’s Governor Honor Program, and the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony. In the Summer of 2025, she traveled to Europe with the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony and performed at esteemed venues in Prague, Salzburg, and Vienna. Manya was also an active member in advocacy and leadership through her high school band’s student leadership team and mentoring program, as well as through volunteering with the Cobb Summer Band Camp. For most of her high school career, she took private saxophone lessons with Dr. Joseph Girard. Manya hopes to continue fostering a love for music in others and helping music education reach equitable heights for learning.
John Casey Matheson
1st Year, Bachelor of Music in Music Education
John Casey Matheson (he/him) is a first-year Music Education major at The University of Georgia, where he performs with the Redcoat Marching Band and the UGA Wind Symphony. He is from Athens, Georgia, and graduated from North Oconee High School, where he performed in his school's Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and directed the school's Chamber Orchestra. During his high school career, John Casey was a part of various honor ensembles, including the GMEA District 14 Honor Band, GMEA All-State Band, Jan-Fest, and was a part of the 2024 Governors Honor Program, which further helped to improve his skills and elevate his passion for music. In his final year, he participated in his school’s Work Work-Based Learning program to assist in the middle school band. This experience solidified John Casey’s love for music and education. He hopes to continue this path and help future generations of students have the same passion and have a strong effect on his students’ lives.
Mason Pounds
1st Year, Bachelor of Music in Music Education
Mason Pounds is a first-year Music Education major at The University of Georgia, where he is a member of the Redcoat Marching Band and the UGA Wind Symphony. Mason grew up in Evans, GA, and graduated from Greenbrier High School. There he developed his love for music from his parents and the many music educators that shared their passion for music. Mason was selected to perform in several GMEA All-State Bands, GMEA All-State Jazz Bands, and UGA Janfest Honor Bands. Additionally, he served as a Section Leader, Woodwind Captain, and Band Captain of his high school’s marching band. While studying at UGA, Mason aims to refine his music and leadership skills so he can one day become a music teacher and inspire students in the way he was inspired by his parents, teachers, and friends.
Alexander Sales
1st Year, Bachelor of Music in Music Education
Alexander Sales(He/Him) is a first-year Music Education major at the University of Georgia. At UGA, he performs with the Wind Symphony and is excited to continue developing as both a performer and educator. He is from Norcross, Georgia and graduated from Meadowcreek High School, where he was actively involved in the marching, concert, and jazz bands. During his time at Meadowcreek, he served as a Section Leader, and Drum Major for the Meadowcreek marching band. Alexander was selected to attend the Georgia Governors Honors Program for music, where he studied alongside some of the state’s top young musicians, He has also performed in the GMEA District 13 honor band as well as the GMEA All-State Band. His experiences leading band sectionals and student teaching an Algebra 1 class as a dual-enrolled student at Gwinnett Technical College strengthened his passion for both music and education. Alex is committed to inspiring and educating future generations of students, and he looks forward to a career where he can help young musicians grow, achieve their potential, and develop a lifelong love for music.