Saxophonist Matthew Tracy is a dynamic performer and teacher, who has received acclaim for his innovative interpretations and pedagogy. He was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Saxophone Performance from Michigan State University, serving as a teaching assistant to world renowned saxophonist Joseph Lulloff. Additionally, he has appeared as a guest artist and clinician in high schools and universities across the United States. An accomplished chamber musician, Tracy has won awards in the Fischoff, Plowman, Coleman, MTNA and North American Saxophone Alliance chamber music competitions. He was recently featured at the US Navy Band Saxophone Symposium and the NASA Region IV conference.

Tracy was awarded the MSU College of Music’s highest honor, being selected as a winner of the Honors Concerto Competition. He has also performed as a soloist with the MSU Symphony Orchestra and with the Holland (MI) Symphony.

An advocate for new music, Tracy has premiered new pieces for saxophone by composers such as Reynold Simpson, Phillip Sink, Justin Rito, Curtis Smith, and Andy Francis. In addition to his DMA and Masters degree from MSU, Tracy holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Central Michigan University studying with esteemed pedagogue John Nichol.

Tracy serves as Assistant Professor of Saxophone and Music Theory at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where he teaches Saxophone, Chamber Music and courses in Music Theory, Aural Skills, and 20th Century Music.

Yu-Ling Chen, PhD, MT-BC, Fellow of Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT), joined the faculty at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 2013. She is currently an assistant professor in music therapy and the coordinator of the piano division. Chen holds her Doctor of Philosophy in Music Therapy from the University of Kansas, received both Master of Music Education in Music Therapy and Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Kansas, and her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music-Piano Performance from the National Taiwan Normal University. Previously, Chen was a clinical music therapist at the Chang Gung Medical Foundations and an adjunct instructor at the Tainan National University of the Arts in Taiwan. Her clinical research, including music therapy for children with disabilities and dementia care, and Neurologic Music Therapy applications, has been presented in the national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. At SWOSU, she has diligently pursued undergraduate research with her students, and together they have continually presented at conferences. In addition to her work in the music therapy profession, Chen has been active as a solo and collaborative pianist, including a solo recital at the National Concert Hall in Taiwan. At SWOSU, she has frequently performed alongside visiting artists, her colleagues, and students. Each year, she serves as the Director of two piano competitions: The Hubbard-Males Piano Competition and the Breckenridge Invitational Competition for Pianists.