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Saxophone

Gregory Luffey joined UTEP’s music faculty in 2009 after a twenty year career performing in US Air Force Bands. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies and a Master’s degree in Saxophone Performance from Virginia Commonwealth Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é. While at VCU, Mr. Luffey studied with Doug Richards, Keith Young, Charles West, and jazz patriarch, Ellis Marsalis. Mr. Luffey’s jazz and classical training, as well as his woodwind doubling skills, enabled him to win a position in the USAF Band program where he performed and recorded extensively in the US and Europe. During his tenure in the Air Force Band Mr. Luffey was a regularly featured saxophone soloist on many big band jazz concerts and performed on clarinet and saxophone in concert bands. While overseas, he performed for many Heads of State including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton.

At UTEP, Professor Luffey teaches a saxophone studio between fifteen and twenty students and coaches three saxophone quartets. He has also taught courses in ear training, jazz improvisation, jazz arranging, music appreciation, and woodwind pedagogy. He has been the featured soloist with the UTEP Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Winds, Jazz Band, Pandemonium steel drum ensemble, and the Faculty Jazz Quintet. Mr. Luffey is also a freelance woodwind player in the region having performed with the El Paso Symphony, El Paso Pro Musica, and in Broadway shows. He has also played on cruise ships, theme parks, and can be heard on 25 Department of the Air Force recordings.  

Contact Info

Department of Music: Saxophone

Email: gsluffey@utep.edu
Office: FFA M233
Office Phone: (915) 747-5642