Duncan McElman

Duncan McElman is an award-winning baritone saxophonist and educator noted for his powerful sound, ferocious sense of swing, and deep commitment to passing on the music to future generations. He is a professor at Sacramento State University, where he teaches big bands, jazz combos, private lessons, and serves frequently as an in-demand clinician, guest artist, and adjudicator for a variety of local jazz festivals and competitions.

A Sacramento native, McElman was a member of the renowned Rio Americano High School Band Program, and was also  a member of various local and national jazz honor ensembles: the SFJAZZ High School All Stars Orchestra, the 2017 Jazz Band of America, as well as the 2017 Monterey Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, with whom he performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the main stage of the 60th Monterey Jazz Festival. 

A graduate of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, he studied with saxophonists Gary Keller and Troy Roberts and was a featured soloist in performances alongside such jazz luminaries as Maria Schneider, Dave Leibman, Wycliffe Gordon, and Brian Lynch, among others. During this time, he was the recipient of notable awards: a 2019 selection to the baritone saxophone chair for the prestigious JAS Jazz Academy in Aspen, Colorado, working under the direction of Christian McBride. 

In 2023, Duncan received his Master’s degree in Music Performance (Jazz) at California State University, Sacramento, serving as a Graduate Assistant under professors Steve Roach and Brian Landrus. Here he performed with the school’s top big band and jazz combo, where he received once again received high profile awards: a 2022 Outstanding Graduate College Soloist award, a 2023 Graduate College Combo Winner award, and as student director took the schools second jazz ensemble to an unprecedented second place finish in the finals of the 2023 California Jazz Championships. 

Duncan is currently an adjunct professor on faculty at Sacramento State University, directing big bands, combos, and teaching jazz saxophone.