Scott Litroff
"E. Rousseau mouthpieces are quite simply the most comfortable classical saxophone mouthpieces I have ever played. Having long ago earned a reputation for their clean sound and even tone, in the expert hands of Jody Espina the updated NC series has truly become an indispensable tool in my classical saxophone work. I play a great deal of demanding repertoire, and both my NC 4 and ER 50 Custom can handle any musical situation across the classical genre with ease. The tone quality and response from low Bb to extreme altissimo is even, robust, and articulates easily with a wide dynamic range. They are suitable for saxophonists at any experience level, and are incredibly consistent across multiple mouthpieces. I recommend E. Rousseau to classical saxophonists with full confidence that they will be trying an excellent mouthpiece that will facilitate their educational and artistic endeavors. As a practitioner of both jazz and classical styles, I'm also very impressed with the JDX series as a comfortable choice for a variety of jazz and pop settings."
Biography:
Renowned internationally for his seamless stylistic versatility, saxophonist DR. SCOTT LITROFF demonstrates his command of classical, jazz, and pop idioms through his extensive work as both a performer and educator. His solo debut at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in 2008 has been followed by performances at venues including Weill Hall, Merkin Hall, the DiMenna Center, Yoshi’s Club San Francisco, Seattle’s Jazz Alley, and internationally at venues in Mexico, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Canada, Argentina, and Japan. He has performed alongside some of the world’s finest musicians across multiple genres, including Koh Mr. Saxman, Ray Anderson, Bakithi Kumalo, Steve Salerno, Nellie McKay, and has performed under the baton of renowned conductors including George Manahan, Rosen Milanov, Joseph Colaneri, Hana Kim, and David Hayes. Scott is also the principal saxophonist in the New York Wind Orchestra based in NYC.
Dr. Litroff is dedicated to his efforts as a collegiate educator in addition to his extensive work as a performer. He is the Associate Professor of Jazz and Popular Music at Queensborough Community College at CUNY in New York. In 2024, the QCC Music Department received NASM accreditation and is one of only a relatively small number of community colleges to achieve this accreditation. At QCC, Dr. Litroff also serves as Chairperson of the college’s Steering Committee of the Academic Senate, presiding over the college’s 78-person faculty governance body. Dr. Litroff is also Adjunct Professor of Music at Adelphi University in New York, where he achieved the distinction of Senior Adjunct Faculty in 2024 and pioneered a history-based survey course in Hip Hop at an institution that boasts alumni including Chuck D of Public Enemy fame. Scott is also sought internationally as a clinician, and has appeared as a guest artist throughout the United States, Mexico, Thailand, Japan, Argentina, and China. His clinics often focus on topics related to saxophone pedagogy as they apply to procuring and maintaining proficiency across classical, jazz, and pop music disciplines.
Dr. Litroff enjoys collaborative work with composers and encourages the commissioning of new compositions for saxophone that take full advantage of the instrument’s lyrical, tonal, and stylistic flexibility. Through commissions and other works composed for him, Scott has premiered over 20 compositions including words by Arodi Martinez Serrano, Lan-In Winnie Yang, Elliot Bark, David Loeb, Sidney Boquiren, David Campbell, Karl Hinze, and Dawn Chambers. Three of these new works appear on his 2021 debut classical album, Global Saxophone, released by MSR Classics. The album was hailed by Classics Today as, “…intelligently curated, impeccably executed…appealing program that ought to attract more than just classical saxophone fans,” and received a review score of 10/10. Scott’s debut single as a Smooth Jazz artist, “Never Forget,” was released in November 2023 and was produced produced by the world-renowned Smooth Jazz producer and Billboard #1 chart topper, Darren Rahn. In June 2025, Dr. Litroff will record a grant-funded collaborative project to produce a crossover album including elements of jazz, smooth jazz, and Indian Classical music, combining a traditional jazz rhythm section with sitar and tabla to interpret original works that draw upon all three genres in a refreshing fusion setting.
Scott Litroff has received numerous awards and honors related to his activities as a performer and pedagogical researcher. He is the recipient of the prestigious 2013 Samuel Baron Prize, the 2012 Ackerman Prize in Music, the 2011 Bob Meyers Award for Excellence in Jazz, first prize in Stony Brook University’s undergraduate and graduate concerto competitions, and first prize in the Mannes College for Music Concerto Competition. Scott is the first saxophonist to receive these awards. He is also a three-time recipient of the PSC-CUNY Research Award and two-time recipient of the Adelphi University Adjunct Faculty Development Grant.
