Dr. Jeffrey Allardyce is a saxophone performer, music theorist, and educator from West Michigan. He serves as Assistant Professor (Lecturer) of Saxophone and also teaches Music Technology and Music Theory at the University of Utah. On the stage, in the classroom, and beyond, he connects with his audiences through his musical passion, welcoming personality, and desire to make a meaningful impact in his community.
Allardyce has built and maintained a national and international presence as a performer and scholar with performances throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Since 2015, he has performed abroad in France, Croatia, and Italy for previous World Saxophone Congresses and workshops; in Belgium for the 8th International Adolphe Sax Competition; and in South Korea for the 2026 International Clarinet Association’s ClarinetFest. Within the United States, he’s artfully performed in all parts of the country from New York to Arizona, Texas to Michigan, and Mississippi to Montana for guest artist residencies, recitals, conferences, and competitions held by the likes of the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA), Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Michigan Music Conference, and more.
As a chamber musician, he holds the tenor chair in Sound Session, a professional saxophone quartet that launched in 2021. Sound Session received first place in the Fischoff “Lift Every Voice” Competition, NASA Quartet Competition, MTNA Chamber Music Competition, Barbara Wagner Chamber Music Competition, and the graduate division of the NOLA Chamber Fest. Sound Session’s mission includes education and community outreach, as well as commissioning and premiering new works for the saxophone. Among their many premieres, they notably recorded and released a single featuring Desdemona’s Last Words for saxophone quartet by GRAMMY-winning composer Jeff Scott. Allardyce serves as Director of Operations for the ensemble’s L.L.C. He is also a co-founder of the Intrepid Duo, a saxophone and clarinet duo, with the University of Utah’s clarinet professor, Dr. Laura Grantier. They aim to highlight the unique collaborative capabilities of the single-reed family, and they are active commissioners, performers, and guest clinicians for students at all levels of music education—especially in underserved communities. The Intrepid Duo’s first CD, CONFLUENCE, is self-produced and features works by living composers, including Mellits, Silverman, Zare, Bellor, Wanamaker, and Nance.
As an applied faculty member and professor, Allardyce focuses on the “whole student” approach to pedagogy, which emphasizes knowing, understanding, and respecting students beyond their academic selves. He creates a safe, yet critical learning environment that allows students to grow as individuals, collaborate with peers, and explore their individual interests. His previous musical and academic research includes performance and analysis, identity and religion in music, musical narrative, and a dissertation on popular music influences on contemporary saxophone music related to groove, timbre, and harmony.
Allardyce holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Saxophone Performance and Master of Music in Music Theory Pedagogy from Michigan State University, a Master of Music in Saxophone Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music, and two Bachelor’s degrees in Music Education and Performance from Central Michigan University. His previous teachers include Joseph Lulloff, Chien-Kwan Lin, John Nichol, and Jonathan Nichol. Allardyce is a Yamaha Performing Artist and performs solely on Yamaha instruments.