“The most beautiful soprano saxophone tone...”
                                -Alfred Reed

“I thoroughly enjoyed your performance of ‘Elegie.’”
                                -Jindrich Feld

Joren's dissertation, Rediscovering Fernande Decruck's Sonate en ut# pour saxophone alto (ou alto) et orchestre: A performance analysis, can be purchased HERE.

Biography

Joren Cain is a saxophone soloist well-versed in both classical and jazz idioms.  A Chicago native, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northern Illinois University, where he studied saxophone with Steve Duke.  Dr. Cain continued his studies with Jim Riggs at the University of North Texas, where he was a member of the 2 O’Clock Lab Band and earned his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. 

As an educator, Dr. Cain was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Northern Illinois University and a Teaching Fellow at UNT.  He is currently Associate Professor of saxophone and director of the New Jazz Ensemble at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia.  His article discussing the saxophone sonatas of Edison Denisov can be found in the 2000 Saxophone Symposium, and, most recently, he was a contributing writer for GIA’s “Teaching Music Through Performance in Jazz.”  Another area of interest is the saxophone music of Fernande Decruck, and his doctoral dissertation includes a detailed analysis of her Sonata in C#.  

Dr. Cain is committed to the study and performance of contemporary saxophone music and has commissioned over a dozen new works for the instrument.  His playing has been applauded by composers Sammy Nestico, Alfred Reed, and Jindřich Feld.  He has performed as a soloist across the U.S. and abroad, including Germany and the Czech Republic.  Additionally, Dr. Cain served as a member of The United States Army Field Band, the Army’s premier touring concert band, for four years.  He performed as a featured soloist, acted as staff arranger, and was the soprano saxophonist in the TUSAFB Saxophone Quartet.  Currently, he has an active performance schedule as a soloist, a member of the Maharlika Trio (www.maharlikatrio.com), and as a freelance musician throughout the southeastern United States.  

Joren Cain is proud to be an RS Berkeley artist.