Paula Van Goes is "a virtuoso saxophonist that possesses excellent technical attributes and a deep understanding of the music [she] performs" (Ovación). As a Selmer-Paris Artist and Clinician she enjoys a career as a chamber musician, soloist and educator. While serving as the Interim Professor of Saxophone at Universidade de Brasília Dr. Van Goes is the first American to teach saxophone within the federal university system in Brazil.
In recent performances, Paula has shared the stage with Branford Marsalis and the Orquestra Sinfônica do Teatro Nacional Claudio Santoro in Brasília, was a featured artists at the XVIII Encuentro Universitario Internacional de Saxofón México 2019 and presented at the 2018 World Saxophone Congress in Zagreb, Croatia. She has performed and lectured in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Canada, China, Croatia, France, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Scotland, Ukraine and the United States, with recent solo recitals at Casa Thomas Jefferson, the cultural institute of the United States Embassy in Brasília, Brazil, the College Music Society Great Plains Festival, University of Nebraska-Kearney Festival of New Music, the 5th Festival International and 2nd Saxophone Competition PERUSAX in Huánuco, Peru; Toronto International Electroacoustic Convention in Canada; III Encuentro Internacional de Saxofonistas in Argentina; Saxofoneado in Santa Cruz, Bolivia; the World Saxophone Congress in Strasburg, France; Faenza Saxophone Festival in Italy, and Soochow University in Suzhou, China.
An active chamber musician, Van Goes collaborates in a variety of settings. One of her current projects is in conjunction with vocalist, Regina Stronsek. The duo for saxophone and soprano voice explores the timbral possibilities of their instruments with emphasis of works by female composers. With Norwegian saxophonist Ivan Mazuze, they create original works that blur the lines of classical and jazz traditions steeped with African-based rhythms. Since 2014 she has performed with chatterbird, a Nashville-based alternative classical music collective, dedicated to exploring uniquely orchestrated chamber music.
Paula holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Maryland, a Master of Arts in Music from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Past academic appointments include Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Maryland, and Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Dr. Van Goes’ teachers include Dale Underwood, Timothy Timmons, and Robert Fought. Paula is currently based in Atlanta, Georgia.
In recent performances, Paula has shared the stage with Branford Marsalis and the Orquestra Sinfônica do Teatro Nacional Claudio Santoro in Brasília, was a featured artists at the XVIII Encuentro Universitario Internacional de Saxofón México 2019 and presented at the 2018 World Saxophone Congress in Zagreb, Croatia. She has performed and lectured in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Canada, China, Croatia, France, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Scotland, Ukraine and the United States, with recent solo recitals at Casa Thomas Jefferson, the cultural institute of the United States Embassy in Brasília, Brazil, the College Music Society Great Plains Festival, University of Nebraska-Kearney Festival of New Music, the 5th Festival International and 2nd Saxophone Competition PERUSAX in Huánuco, Peru; Toronto International Electroacoustic Convention in Canada; III Encuentro Internacional de Saxofonistas in Argentina; Saxofoneado in Santa Cruz, Bolivia; the World Saxophone Congress in Strasburg, France; Faenza Saxophone Festival in Italy, and Soochow University in Suzhou, China.
An active chamber musician, Van Goes collaborates in a variety of settings. One of her current projects is in conjunction with vocalist, Regina Stronsek. The duo for saxophone and soprano voice explores the timbral possibilities of their instruments with emphasis of works by female composers. With Norwegian saxophonist Ivan Mazuze, they create original works that blur the lines of classical and jazz traditions steeped with African-based rhythms. Since 2014 she has performed with chatterbird, a Nashville-based alternative classical music collective, dedicated to exploring uniquely orchestrated chamber music.
Paula holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Maryland, a Master of Arts in Music from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Past academic appointments include Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Maryland, and Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Dr. Van Goes’ teachers include Dale Underwood, Timothy Timmons, and Robert Fought. Paula is currently based in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photograph by Carol Gonze
