Erik Steighner

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Praised by the Tacoma News Tribune for his “effortless lyricism” as well as his “smooth tone and fluid virtuosity,” saxophonist Erik Steighner has performed with ensembles including the Austin Symphony Orchestra, the Federal Way Symphony, the Northwest Sinfonietta, the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra, the San Antonio Symphony, and the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra. Steighner has served on the faculty of Texas State University and currently teaches at Pacific Lutheran University and Tacoma Community College, where his course load has included Saxophone, Chamber Music, Music Appreciation, Ear Training, Music Theory, and Digital Music. He is also on faculty at the University of Puget Sound Community Music Department and is founder and conductor of the South Sound Saxophone Ensemble. 

 

Steighner has premiered dozens of solo and chamber works and appears on CD releases from labels including Albany Records, Alea Publishing, Mark Custom, Naxos, Reference Recordings, and Vienna Modern Masters. His latest album is Made in Tacoma: New Chamber Music for Saxophone, and he is a recent winner of the Frances Walton Competition in Seattle. Steighner holds bachelor’s degrees in music and English from the University of Puget Sound and master’s and doctoral degrees in saxophone performance from The University of Texas at Austin. He is a Conn-Selmer artist and plays on Selmer Paris saxophones and mouthpieces.