Hailed as “the ideal collaborator for new music” by Brutal New Music Review, and as a “new music virtuoso” by Leslie Tate - saxophonist and new music curator Drew Hosler (he/him/his) is an advocate for contemporary music. Drew’s playing has been praised for its “beautiful tone and technique” by Brutal New Music Review and described as “rich and soulful” by Louis Yungling of COMPASS Concerts. Drew has commissioned, premiered, and collaborated on over 200 pieces by award-winning composers such as Andrew Mead, Jamie Leigh Sampson, David Heinick, Marilyn Shrude, Matthew Kennedy, Quinn Mason, and Gregory Wanamaker. His upcoming debut solo album, delta waves, features thirteen world premiere recordings of 21st century works for the tenor saxophone.

Drew is an avid performer as a soloist. Upcoming engagements include premiering Griffin Candey’s new tenor saxophone concerto, Double Aviaries, with Matthew Salvaggio and the Cleveland Repertory Orchestra during their 2023/24 season. In addition, he is working with composers Martin Gaughan, Robert Gross, and JaeEun Schermerhorn on new tenor saxophone concerti that he will premiere in the coming seasons. He gave the world premiere of Josh Trentadue’s tenor saxophone concerto, To fly and to fall, with conductor Kim Fleming and musicians at The University of Michigan. Additionally, he has performed concerti by Walter Mays and William Albright with the Bowling Green Philharmonia and the BGSU Concert Band under the baton of Alexander Popovici and Bruce Moss respectively. He has also performed a variety of music for solo saxophone at Classical Revolution Cleveland, New Music Gathering, University of Kansas New Music Guild, 15-Minutes-of-Fame, New Music Mosaic, Boston New Music Initiative, as well as various North American Saxophone Alliance Conferences. He was awarded Grand Prize in the 2023 Cambridge Music Competition, First Prize in the 2023 Bach Music Competition, First Prize with Excellence Nomination from 2022 Vivaldi International Music Competition, third prize through the 2021 Charleston International Music Competition’s Contemporary Music Competition, third prize in the 2022 London Classical Music Competition and was selected as a winner of the 2017 51st Bowling Green State University (BGSU) Competition in Music Performance.

Drew has been a member of the Cleveland Winds since November, 2022 under the baton of music director, Birch Browning. He frequently performs with the Lima Symphony Orchestra at Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center in Lima, Ohio with Maestro Andrew Crust. These performances can also be heard on WGTE Public Media. He has spent multiple summers as a saxophonist for the Saginaw Eddy Concert Band playing at the jolt Credit Union Event Park under the direction of Joseph Radtke. In addition, he has performed with new music ensembles such as Decho Ensemble and the jazz/hiphop/neo soul group Hyperius Blake and the Sound Experiment.

As a chamber musician, Drew has performed at the IDAGIO’s Global Concert Hall Arts@Future, Zagreb World Saxophone Congress, US Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium, District New Music Coalition, WGTE Public Media, and various Bowling Green New Music and Art Festivals. As a member of the Tekhenu Quartet, he was awarded the Michigan Prize at the 2022 Briggs Chamber Music Competition for their performance of Griffin Candey’s God Forbid. He was awarded first and second prize at the Douglas Wayland Chamber Music Competition with the Epsilon Saxophone Quartet and the Fifth Circle Reed Quintet respectively.

Drew is the saxophonist, and artistic director for the new music ensemble, The _____ Experiment. To date, the ensemble has worked with composers to premiere over 30 works for mixed chamber ensemble. In March 2020, The _____ Experiment released their debut album, Conversations, which includes seven world premiere recordings from five different composers which was funded partially by the Running Start Competition through Michigan State University. They were the guest ensemble for Praecepta’s New Music Mini-Fest at BGSU’s College of Musical Arts where they performed 10 pieces including 7 world premieres by BGSU graduate students and alumni. They also held a residency at the University of Florida where they premiered seven new works by students composers. The ensemble has performed across the country, including for New Music Chicago Presents, the Michigan State University College of Music, SUNY Potsdam Crane School of Music, the Flint Institute of Music, and Narloch Piano Studio in Chicago. In addition, the ensemble was awarded multiple prizes through the Charleston International Music Competition’s 2021 Contemporary Music Competition.

As an educator, Drew runs and maintains a private saxophone studio of students from all over the country. His students have won a variety of awards, including top prizes at Michigan, Ohio, and Alabama solo and ensemble festivals, winning concerto competitions, honor band placements, in addition to top chair placements in their own band. He has taught high school band camps for Chagrin Falls, Holt, St. Henry, Sylvania Southview, and Swartz Creek. In addition, he has taught saxophone, clarinet, and music theory for Lakewood City Schools Instrument Jump Start Camp, BGSU Music Plus Program, and BGSU High School Honor Band. Drew has given saxophone lectures across the midwest. He has given presentations at the University of Michigan, Harding Middle School, Garfield Middle School, Cardinal Stritch Catholic School, among others. He has also given masterclasses across the country including at the University of Florida, Bowling Green State University’s Academy Band, and Lakewood City Schools.

Drew currently serves as the Manager of Concerts and Events at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He also serves on the Professional Development Committee for the North American Saxophone Alliance. 

Drew has participated in festivals such as the SPLICE Institute and the Frederick L. Hemke Institute at Snow Pond Music Festival. Additionally, he is a fellow for both the Cortona Sessions for New Music and The Next Festival of Emerging Artists. Drew holds a Master of Music in Saxophone Performance, a Master of Music in Chamber Music, and a Certificate in Arts Entrepreneurship & Leadership from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance. He also holds a Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance from Bowling Green State University College of Music Arts. Prior to that, he studied at the Flint Institute of Music.