BIOGRAPHY

A Washington, D.C. native, Geoffrey Deibel is a leading, innovative voice for the teaching and performance of the saxophone and contemporary music. He maintains a multi-faceted career as performer, teacher, and researcher. New projects for 2024-2025 include commissions from Tyshawn Sorey, Amadeus Regucera, and Ingrid Laubrock, performed by Trio Nebbia and a new ensemble with Duo Cortona. His most recent recordings include Iannis Xenakis’ Dmaathen with percussionist Ji Hye Jung, and his debut solo recording, “Ex Uno Plures.” He has performed with contemporary music ensembles such as the Wet Ink Ensemble (“Missing Scenes” recording now available) and the International Contemporary Ensemble at the Park Avenue Armory (NYC) in the full North American Premiere of Louis Andriessen’s De Materie. He has also given recitals throughout the U.S. and in Europe, and been an invited guest lecturer at several conservatories in Europe and many Universities in the US. He has appeared at the Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik, Darmstadt, the International Iannis Xenakis Festival in Athens, Greece, and World Saxophone Congresses in the UK, Europe, and Thailand. 

Geoff has commissioned new works by a wide range of composers, including Drew Baker, Caleb Burhans, Viet Cuong, Nathan Davis, Claudio Gabriele, Martin Iddon, Ingrid Laubrock, Robert Lemay, Marc Mellits, Joseph Michaels, Forrest Pierce, David Rakowski, Amadeus Regucera, David Reminick, Jesse Ronneau, Tyshawn Sorey, and Eric Wubbels. He has also premiered the music of Louis Andriessen, Georges Aperghis, Jason Eckardt, Hiroyki Itoh, Pierre Jodlowski, Marc Mellits, Elliott Sharp, Jagoda Szmytka, Mari Takano, Hans Thomalla, and Amy Williams. 

Geoff is a member of the critically acclaimed h2 quartet, first prize winners at the Fischoff Competition and NASA Quartet Competitions, finalists at the Concert Artists Guild Competition, and recipients of multiple Aaron Copland Fund Grants. The American Record Guide has hailed h2 as a group of "artistic commitment...boasting superb blend, solid technique, [and] tight rhythm." h2 has seven recordings available, and maintains a non-profit organization to promote the creation of new works for the saxophone quartet. Geoff is also a seasoned orchestral performer, and serves as principal saxophonist with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra. He previously served in the same capacity with the Wichita Symphony, and has also performed with the New World Symphony and Grant Park Symphony. 

Geoff holds degrees in history and music from Northwestern University, and a doctoral degree from Michigan State University. His principal teachers have included Joseph Lulloff, Frederick Hemke, Leo Saguiguit, and Reginald Jackson. Geoff served on the faculty of Wichita State University, where he was the recipient of the 2015 College of Fine Arts Award for Scholarly and Creative Activity, and the 2016 WSU Faculty Award for Excellence in Creative Activity. He currently serves as Associate Professor of Saxophone at Florida State University, where he was awarded a SEED Grant to fund projects from 2024-2027. He also serves on the faculty of the Cortona Sessions for New Music, and the Great Plains Saxophone Workshop. Geoff is a Yamaha, Vandoren, and LefreQue performing artist, and performs on Yamaha Saxophones, and Vandoren reeds, ligatures, and mouthpieces exclusively.

News & Updates

7.09.26 Looking at my news section makes me realize I should probably update it more than once a year… 2026/2027 goals! Just today I received notification that I’ve been invited to become a voting member of The Recording Academy (GRAMMY). Other standouts from this past year were seeing a few of my recent graduates get jobs (more on that soon), more performances with my colleagues Rachel Calloway and Ari Streisfeld of Duo Cortona at USC, a series of guest performances with my favorite reed quintet (Splinter Reeds), getting to perform with Rene Fleming in a TSO performance, an inaugural performance with the reboot of Trio Nebbia, and an uber successful 13th year of the Great Plains Saxophone Workshop with my colleagues in h2. I’m gearing up for my 14th season at the Cortona Sessions for New Music, and preparing for what’s going to be a very exciting year of teaching and performances. Some things to be announced in more detail very soon: upcoming tours with Trio Nebbia, performances with h2, and some other new projects and collaborations. More soon!

6.25.25 Another academic year is almost over, and it’s been quite a busy one. I will have had the good fortune to play three concerto performances with colleagues and students at FSU, and my students have been up to too many impressive things to be able to mention. Some highlights: my student Micah Cheng (MM 25) won the Frances Walton Competition in Seattle, my graduate quartet placed second at the Music Teacher’s National Association Chamber Music Competition, and our Saxophone Orchestra received an invitation to perform at the North American Saxophone Alliance Regional Conference. The first of my SEED Grant initiatives has also come to fruition with a recital at FSU for a new genre of saxophone, voice, and violin, and featuring two of the compositions commissioned through the grant. Saxophonist and composer Ingrid Laubrock wrote us a moving work entitled “Seit mich mein Engel nicht mehr bewacht” (Since my Angel no longer watches over me) set to text by Rainer Maria Rilke and dedicated to the memory of her father. Amadeus Regucera wrote another incredible trio called “In Empty” which was set to text by Korean-American poet Theresa Hak Kyung Cha. I extend my gratitude to my wonderful collaborators in Duo Cortona, Rachel Calloway and Ari Streisfeld for their dedication and impeccable artistry!

6.18.24 h2 quartet completed a recording project of a saxophone octet by Carter Pann at the legendary Electrical Audio studios in Chicago in early May—it was an incredible experience to be in that space, although it occurred during a period of deep mourning following the passing of the great Steve Albini. I also gave a masterclass for the saxophone studio at my alma mater, Northwestern University that was very special for me for obvious reasons. I found out a few weeks ago that I was a recipient of a Florida State University SEED Grant. I am elated to have received this award, as it will allow me a wealth of artistic activity over the next three years (and beyond)! I already have several of the commissioning projects in the works that this award will fund (more information soon!) and there will be a number of concert tours and recordings in the works as well. I look forward to sharing some of the amazing artists I’ll be working with in the very near future. Huge thanks to the Council on Research and Creativity at Florida State University for their support of my activities!

Saxophone Equipment

Soprano

Yamaha EXG Soprano Saxophone
Vandoren S15 Mouthpiece
Vandoren S27 Mouthpiece
Vandoren M/O Ligature
Vandoren 3.5 Traditional Reed

Tenor

Yamaha EX Tenor Saxophone
Vandoren T20 Mouthpiece
Vandoren T8 Mouthpiece
Vandoren M/O Ligature
Vandoren 3.5 Traditional/Java Green Reed