Xander Dawson
Saxophonist | Woodwind Doubler | Arranger
Xander Dawson is a saxophonist and woodwind doubler based in Boston, Massachusetts. He started playing saxophone at age ten and instantly fell in love with the instrument. He has performed as a woodwind doubler in many venues, from concert halls to the high seas. Most recently, he held the reed chair (flute/clarinet/alto sax/tenor sax) and was the company manager aboard Explora I, the first ship in the Explora Journeys fleet. He also served as the principal saxophonist in the New York All-State Band at Eastman’s Kodak Theatre in 2021.
As a freelance woodwind doubler, he has performed alongside talented vocalists including Broadway and West End's Kerry Ellis and Rachel York. He has also worked with multiple theatre companies, including Speakeasy Stage Company, Boston University on Broadway, Emerson College, Berklee College of Music, and Running to Places Theatre Company. He also holds a chair with the Berklee Broadway Band as a multiple woodwind performer.
His most notable recognitions include being a finalist in the Indie Film Music Contest on the short film Next Flight Home. In 2022, he was awarded a national scholarship from the Music Performance Trust Fund. He also received the Berklee Online Celebrity Scholarship, where he holds an Advanced Professional Certificate in Music Theory, Harmony, and Ear Training.
Xander is pursuing a degree in saxophone performance at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where he studies under renowned saxophonist Philipp Stäudlin. Xander is available as a session musician, composer/arranger/copyist, and woodwind doubler. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch for any inquiries.
“The sax playing is the stand-out on this track, balanced pushy harsh notes along with the most delicate of touches. The sax soars away with the melody in a raspy, improvised, tonal reflection of the original theme, almost delicate in its note placement. A gorgeous sax-led section adds variation and reflection.”
— Sammy Stein, United Kingdom, Jazz Views Reviews