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Joey Colarusso

Joey Colarusso
Joey Colarusso

Dr. Joey Colarusso joined the Texas State School of Music faculty in the fall of 2023. He holds Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in jazz performance from the University of Texas at Austin. Able to play across many styles and genres as a saxophonist and woodwind doubler, Dr. Colarusso has performed and/or recorded with numerous local and international artists including The Nova Saxophone Quartet, The Austin Symphony, The Ft. Worth Symphony, The San Antonio Symphony, Austin Lyric Opera, John Mills Times Ten, Johnny Mathis, Gino Vannelli, Michael Feinstein, Marvin Hamlisch, Kenny Rogers, Natalie Cole, Dick Dale, Olivia Newton John, 10000 Maniacs, Aretha Franklin, Frankie Valli, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Manhattan Transfer, Frank Sinatra Jr., Maureen McGovern, Tommy Tune, The Guy Lombardo Orchestra, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Mike Stern, Bob Brookmeyer, Eddie Daniels, Conrad Herwig, Joshua Redman, Dale Watson, Charlie Sexton, Bernadette Peters, Harvey Pittel, Donald Sinta, Grupo Fantasma, Rick Treviño, Little Joe y la Familia, and The United States Air Education Training and Command Band from Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Dr. Colarusso was featured on Ruthie Foster’s Grammy-nominated record, Live at the Paramount. Most recently, he has been touring with ten-time Grammy winning artists, Asleep at the Wheel; and can be heard playing saxophone and trumpet on their Grammy-nominated song, “There You Go Again,” from the band’s 50th anniversary double-vinyl release, Half a Hundred Years

Prior to joining the faculty at Texas State, Dr. Colarusso served as the Coordinator of Instrumental Music at St. Edward's University for fourteen years. There, he directed the SEU Jazz Ensembles and the Mariachi Ensemble, in addition to teaching applied saxophone and the music theory classes. He taught applied saxophone at Prairie View A&M University for five years and at Emory and Henry College for a year. Dr. Colarusso lives in Buda, TX with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys spending time with his beautiful family, forging lasting relationships in music, and learning in tandem with his students.