Biography

Brian Lawrence

Educator, Pianist, Saxophonist, Composer, Arranger and Producer

Brian Lawrence is a composer, educator, saxophonist and pianist with an active focus in jazz and commercial music. Brian is currently a Doctoral Candidate and Graduate Teaching Fellow at the University of North Texas. Prior to UNT, Brian served as Interim Director of Jazz Studies at Central Washington University, as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and taught public school in the greater Seattle area.   

 
Under Brian’s leadership, the CWU Jazz Band was awarded a 2022 DownBeat Magazine Student Music Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Jazz Ensemble. A passionate jazz educator, Brian is a frequent clinician at regional schools and festivals. He has presented at the Jazz Education Network Conference, Washington Music Educators Association Conference, and has been featured on Microsoft’s Education Blog. 

As a student performer and composer, Brian is a 5-time DownBeat SMA recipient. Brian’s arrangements have been performed by jazz artists Tia Fuller, Joshua Redman and Allison Miller, and at the Tournament of Roses Parade, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Seattle Seahawks Halftime Shows. His performance credits include serving as musical director for a nationally touring Carpenters Tribute Band, work for Princess and Holland America Cruise Lines, the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Academy directed by Christian McBride, the UNT One and Two O’Clock Lab Bands, the UNLV Jazz Ensemble I, the CWU Jazz Band 1, and numerous freelance engagements. Brian publishes his compositions and arrangements through Hal Leonard’s ArrangeMe platform. Upon completion of his Doctoral studies, Brian hopes to return to teaching as Director of Jazz Studies at a university, or pursue a freelance career in music composition and arranging.