Ben Facundo

Background

About Ben Facundo

Benjamin Facundo is known for his “masterful technique” and “effortless stage presence,” (MTNA Young Artist Competition). He fuses the classical saxophone sound with the vigor of the contemporary style. Facundo entices his audiences by programing works from the Romantic, Jazz, Modern, and Minimalist eras. He draws inspiration from the likes of Eugene Rousseau, Joyce DiDinato, and Steven Banks. As an emerging artist, Facundo has performed on various stages in the United States, and Europe including the Navy Saxophone Symposium in Washington D.C and the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, Croatia. He is a versatile saxophonist, performing with the University of North Texas Wind Symphony, Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, and the Texarkana Jazz Orchestra. In 2021 he was featured on two albums: The Last Time This Happened, with the Wyoming Jazz Ensemble as lead alto and on Wyoming Saxophone Studio performing on alto and soprano saxophone. His latest project consists of being the baritone saxophonist for the UNT Wind Symphony’s last two albums Respair and Closure. As an advocate for chamber music and diversity, he co-founded the saxophone quartet Lotus where he currently holds the baritone saxophone chair. Lotus makes a point to perform works by underrepresented composers for each concert and competition cycle out of a shared goal of interpreting dynamic and compelling repertoire. As a soloist, Facundo has placed in various competitions such as the Rousseau 50th Anniversary Competition and the Dorothy Jacoby Concerto Competition. Facundo is currently on faculty at Tarrant County College as an Adjunct Professor where he teaches History of American Music and Applied Saxophone. He is currently continuing his studies as a Woodwind Teaching Fellow at the UNT College of Music, where he is pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in saxophone performance with a related field in music business.