Hailed as “the ideal collaborator for new music” by Brutal New Music Review, and as a “new music virtuoso” by Leslie Tate - saxophonist and new music curator Drew Hosler (he/him/his) is an advocate for contemporary music. Drew’s playing has been praised for its “beautiful tone and technique” by Brutal New Music Review and has been recognized for “his unwavering commitment to bringing fresh, contemporary compositions to the forefront.” by Local 4. Drew has commissioned and premiered over 200 pieces by award-winning composers such as Andrew Mead, Jamie Leigh Sampson, David Heinick, Marilyn Shrude, Matthew Kennedy, Quinn Mason, and Gregory Wanamaker. His  debut solo album, delta waves, features thirteen world premiere recordings of 21st century works for the tenor saxophone. His 2020 EP Hope Will Carry Us featured thirteen new works for solo tenor saxophone. Additionally he has released recordings of works by Robert Lemay, Ehsan Saboohi, Robert Gross, along with others. Drew currently serves as the principal saxophonist of the Cleveland Winds, Cleveland Repertory Orchestra, Video Game Symphony, and Press Play Orchestra. Drew frequently performs around Ohio with the Canton Symphony Orchestra, Ohio Light Opera Orchestra, Lima Symphony Orchestra, and Mansfield Symphony.

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Drew is an avid performer as a soloist. He premiered Neal Endicott’s tenor saxophone concerto, Commodius Vicus with the Michigan Philharmonic in November 2025. He has given the world premiere of Griffin Candey’s tenor saxophone concerto, Double Aviaries, with Matthew Salvaggio and the Cleveland Repertory Orchestra and Josh Trentadue’s tenor saxophone concerto, To fly and to fall, with conductor Kim Fleming and musicians at The University of Michigan. He can also be heard performing Robert Gross’ Concerto for Tenor Saxophone and Nine Instruments on the album Penumbra from New Focus Records. He has performed as a soloist with the Mercyhurst University Wind Ensemble, Bowling Green Philharmonia, and BGSU Concert Band. He has performed concerti by Robert Ward, Walter Mays, and William Albright. He has also performed a variety of music for solo saxophone at Classical Revolution Cleveland, New Music Gathering, University of Kansas New Music Guild, 15-Minutes-of-Fame, New Music Mosaic, Boston New Music Initiative, Local 4’s She Scores Festival, as well as various North American Saxophone Alliance Conferences.

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Drew is the saxophonist, co-founder, and artistic director for the new music ensemble, The _____ Experiment. To date, the ensemble has worked with composers to premiere over 30 works for mixed chamber ensemble. In March 2020, The _____ Experiment released their debut album, Conversations, which includes seven world premiere recordings from five different composers which was funded partially by the Running Start Competition through Michigan State University.

 

Drew currently serves as the director for the Tenor Saxophone Index as well as a member of the Professional Development Committee for the North American Saxophone Alliance. He also serves as an ambassador for PRIMA DOMINATION by Randall Gray.

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Drew currently serves as Saxophone Faculty, Chamber Music Faculty, and Chamber Winds Conductor at the Cleveland Institute of Music Academy, Saxophone Faculty at the Akron Music Institute, as well as a Music Instructor (Saxophone and Clarinet Faculty) for the Music Institute at the University of Akron. Previously he served as a Lecturer at Case Western Reserve University’s Department of Music.

Drew is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He holds a Master of Music in Saxophone Performance, a Master of Music in Chamber Music, and a Graduate Certificate in Arts Entrepreneurship & Leadership from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance. He also holds a Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance from Bowling Green State University College of Music Arts. Prior to that, he studied at the Flint Institute of Music. His primary instructors have been Timothy McAllister, John Sampen, and Jeffrey Price.