David Bennette

David Bennette is a saxophonist, educator, and chamber musician based in Evanston, Illinois, where he is pursuing a Master of Music in Saxophone Performance at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music under the mentorship of Taimur Sullivan. He also serves as a graduate assistant in the non-major lessons department.

Originally from Dallas, Texas, Bennette earned his Bachelor of Music Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. As an undergraduate, he performed with the University of Texas Wind Ensemble under director Jerry Junkin, appearing as a soloist in the consortium premiere of Viet Cuong’s Second Nature with Zed and traveling with the ensemble to Carnegie Hall for its 50th anniversary celebration. He also appeared with the University of Texas Symphony Orchestra as tenor saxophone soloist in the world premiere of the orchestral version of Omar Thomas’ Come Sunday.

Bennette is the baritone saxophonist of Zed, an Austin-based saxophone quartet he co-founded in 2023. The quartet has earned First Prizes at the 2025 MTNA and Plowman Chamber Music Competitions, Silver Medals at the 2024 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition and 2024 NOLA Chamber Fest, and was historically one of the first saxophone quartets selected as a semifinalist in the 2025 Walter W. Naumburg Chamber Music Competition. In 2026, Zed was one of two ensembles selected from the United States to participate in the Osaka International Chamber Music Festa. The quartet has performed at events including the Chamber Music America Conference, Texas Music Educators Association Convention, Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium, and North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference. Through Zed, Bennette is particularly committed to expanding the saxophone quartet repertoire through commissioning and performing new works by emerging and underrepresented composers.

As a soloist, Bennette was the 2026 First Prize winner of the Vandoren Emerging Artists’ Competition and received Third Prize in the 2026 North American Saxophone Alliance Collegiate Solo Competition. His artistic interests center on contemporary music, collaboration, and expanding the role of the saxophone within classical music. He has participated in commissioning projects with composers including Goomin Nam, Kian Ravaei, and Ivan Trevino, and has performed with ensembles such as Grammy Award-winning Alarm Will Sound at the TIME:SPANS Festival in New York and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. He also performs with the Evanston Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, and Dallas Winds as a substitute member.

An advocate for music education and community engagement, Bennette has served on the faculty of the Young Saxophonist’s Institute, taught private saxophone in the Dallas and Austin areas, and led masterclasses and residencies at universities and music programs throughout the country. Through Zed and nonprofit organizations including Through The Staff and ~Nois Performing Arts Organization, he has worked to expand access to classical saxophone education and performance opportunities. His primary teachers include Taimur Sullivan, Dr. Stephen Page, Dr. Calvin Wong, and Roy Allen Jr.