Sunday, February 26, 2023
6:00 pm EST
WPAC Concert Hall
$15 general, $10 senior/FIU faculty, staff, & alumni, $5 student
2023 MIGF Festival Pass
is available to attend all festival events at a single reduced price: $100 general, $70 senior/FIU faculty, staff, & alumni, $30 student
David Fernandez began his career as a jazz musician in Miami, Florida. He first studied jazz at Miami Senior High School under the direction of Dr. Brian Leavell. He earned an invitation to New York to perform with the McDonald’s All-American High School Band his senior year. He also won an honorable mention from Downbeat Magazine for best high school performer, and won first place for Best Original Composition.
Praised by the Regions Music as “one of Miami’s most startlingly original voices in jazz. His technical fluency and ease of expression on the saxophone are matched with a supple and gorgeous tone; his solos often develop into pleasing deluges of romanticism, backed up with broad harmonic intelligence and a wealth of ideas.”
Upon graduation, he enrolled at the University of Miami and earned his Bachelor’s Degree. Shortly after, he continued his studies at Florida International University under the direction of Gary Campbell and completed his Master’s Degree.
David began his career touring with latin pop-star Chayanne. Along the way, he has toured with such artists as Jon Secada, Gloria Estefan, Darryl Tookes, and K.C. and the Sunshine Band. He has shared the stage with Joe Henderson, Paquito D’ Rivera, Randy Brecker, Kenny Werner, Gerry Mulligan, Bob Minzer, Arturo Sandoval, WillyChirino, Nestor Torres, Rafael, The O.J.’s, The Funk Brothers, Peabo Bryson, Nate Smith, Ignacio Berroa, Patti Austin, Queen Latifa, The Tramps, and Jim Belushi.
He currently has 7 CD’s released as a leader, “Symmetry” and “TransitionProject”, “David Fernandez*”, “Consortium”, “DTF”, “One Man Banned”, and “Sketches of Pain”.
Apart from performing, David Fernandez was also a Professor of Saxophones at MDC Wolfson and an adjunct professor at MDC-Kendall, MDC West, Barry University, and FIU. He was also Jazz Discipline Coordinator for Young Arts in 2011-2012. He recently finished a two year stint on the musical, On Your Feet, in New York City. He now serves as Academic Coordinator in Support of Student Services at The Wertheim FIU School of Music.
