“a fearless musician and risk taker…a one-of-a-kind artist the way Yo-Yo Ma is”

John Adams Pulitzer Prize Laureate and Grammy-winning composer

“McAllister is at the center of what’s probably the most mainstream classical saxophone disc of the decade - John Adams’ City Noir and Saxophone Concerto on Nonesuch”

David Patrick Stearns The Philadelphia Inquirer (April 2014)

“…breathtaking and spectacular…a revolution displayed in the hands of an artist…”

Donald Sinta Earl V. Moore Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Saxophone, The University of Michigan

“McAllister was phenomenal, giving a dazzling performance that rocked the audience to its feet for a prolonged and well-deserved ovation”

Sarah Bryan Miller St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Oct 2013)

“Adams imparts a lighter touch to the orchestration to support the solo alto saxophone’s sinewy lines, played with wondrous dexterity by Timothy McAllister”

Pwyll ap Sion GRAMOPHONE Magazine (Aug. 2014)

“A tremendous saxophonist, McAllister played with great strength, bright tone, and excellent intonation—including the altissimo register—on all his horns…in the end Corigliano’s ‘Triathlon’ brought the house down in cheers for soloist, orchestra, and composer.”

George Grella New York Classical Review (6/5/22)

“McAllister was the tirelessly virtuosic soloist, playing with rhythmic drive and confident swagger…”

Hugo Shirley The Telegraph (UK) (9/5/14)

“a titan of contemporary music and the instrument in general”

Zachary Lewis The Plain Dealer, Cleveland (10/7/14)

“World-renowned saxophonist Timothy McAllister’s brilliant, crowd-pleasing performance was equal parts rock-star swagger and supremely polished musicianship”

Leonidas Lagrimas The Buffalo News (12/8/2019)

“fantastic virtuosity and lyric beauty”

John Corigliano Pulitzer Prize Laureate, Grammy, and Oscar-winning composer

Latest Recording

WAYS YOU WENT

Recently named Musical America’s 2024 Ensemble of the Year, Donald Nally’s chamber choir The Crossing stuns alongside the PRISM Quartet with their latest studio album, WAYS YOU WENT. Vibrant, exhilarating, and uplifting, this new release features original compositions by composers Martin Bresnick and Mason Bates.

Learn more

Recent News

Tyshawn SOREY's "Adagio (For Wadada Leo Smith)" wins the 2024 Pulitzer Prize in Music!

MAY 6, 2024 - Commissioned by the Lucerne Festival and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with support from New Music USA, Tyshawn Sorey’s alto saxophone concerto “Adagio (For Wadada Leo Smith)” featuring soloist and dedicatee Timothy McAllister has been awarded the 2024 Pulitzer Prize in Music. This represents a milestone on many levels, but, quite notably, this is the first instance a composition for classical saxophone has received this distinction.

Link to the full Philadelphia...

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McAllister Set to Make New York Philharmonic Debut with Corigliano's "Triathlon." More Regional Premieres.

Ann Arbor, Michigan - The New York Philharmonic released its 2024-2025 Season on 3/19/24 which includes Tim McAllister’s debut with the orchestra, and the New York City premiere performances of John Corigliano’s saxophone concerto, TRIATHLON! The concerts (March 26, 27 & 29), led by the eminent Leonard Slatkin, also features music of Cindy McTee and Shostakovich. More information found HERE.

Also released...

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New Chandos and Naxos Recording Projects Announced!

New Album Releases on the way!

Coming in November 2023, Naxos artist and Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic JoAnn Falletta will release a series of rarely heard American works with the National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic. Recorded at the NOI Festival in 2022, the album features Paul Creston’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra. Often performed in its version for wind band, this recording documents the iconic saxophone work in its original orchestral...

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Adolphus HAILSTORK Concerto for Alto Saxophone and String Orchestra to be premiered in 24/25 Season!

Dedicated to Timothy McAllister and commissioned through a generous gift by Gail Straith and the Michigan Orchestra Repertoire for Equity (MORE) Fund, this new concerto by acclaimed composer Adolphus Hailstork receives its World Premiere in Ann Arbor on February 2, 2025 with the University Symphony Orchestra under Kenneth Kiesler and its co-premiere and recording for NAXOS under JoAnn Falletta and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra on May 30, 2025. Subsequent performances include its...

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McAllister signs with JONATHAN WENTWORTH ASSOCIATES, Ltd.

Timothy McAllister has signed with one of the most respected firms for world-class fine arts music programming, Jonathan Wentworth Associates, Ltd., which represents award-winning soloists, chamber ensembles, conductors and special projects. He joins a roster filled with leading names in the classical industry including guitarist Jason Vieaux, the Fry Street Quartet, violinist Mark Kaplan, conductor Michael Butterman, pianist Christopher Taylor,...

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Live Excerpts

  • Concertino da Camera - Mvt. I

    Jacques Ibert

  • Bolero

    Maurice Ravel

  • Romance for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra

    William Grant Still

  • Abduction from Montag aus Licht

    Karlheinz Stockhausen

  • Soprano Sax Concerto

    Jennifer Higdon

  • Children's Songs

    Chick Corea

  • Escapades: Suite from "Catch Me If You Can"

    John Williams

  • Concerto for Alto Saxophone and 11 Instruments

    Andrew Mead

  • Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Orchestra - Mvt. III

    Ingolf Dahl

  • Duo Sonata for Two Baritone Saxophones

    Sofia Gubaidulina

  • Sonata, Mvt. IV Nocturne et Final

    Fernande Decruck

  • Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra, Op. 26 - Mvt. III

    Paul Creston

Upcoming Performances

  1. New York Philharmonic; John Adams's "City Noir" 11/14-11/16

    7:30 PM
  2. New York Philharmonic; John Adams's "City Noir"

    7:30 PM
  3. Soloist with Orquestra Sinfonica de Galicia 12/20-12/21; Connesson's "A Kind of Trane" (SPAIN PREMIERE)

    8:00 PM