Department of Music Faculty and Staff

Jared Cummings, adjunct professor of saxophone, is an accomplished performer and educator. Past experiences include guest artist recitals and masterclasses at Georgia College and State University (GCSU), Middle Georgia State University, and Columbus State University. In 2023, he premiered new works by Brian Nabors and Matthew Howell at the Biennial North American Saxophone Alliance Conference. Dr. Cummings has also appeared as a guest soloist with the Cass High School Band at the University of South Carolina Honor Band Clinic and the Southeastern Regional Music for All Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. As a chamber musician, he has presented recitals with the Schwob Saxophone Quartet in Columbus, Georgia, Crossroads Quartet in Kansas City, Missouri, and Red Hills Saxophone Quartet in Tallahassee, Florida. With the Red Hills Saxophone Quartet, Dr. Cummings has presented masterclasses and recitals at Troy University, University of Alabama, Samford University, and Columbus State University. He has also presented a joint recital at the 2022 American Single Reed Summit with Dr. Nola Preston.

As an educator, Dr. Cummings served as teaching assistant to the FSU saxophone studio where he taught undergraduate applied lessons, coached chamber ensembles, taught saxophone methods to undergraduate students, directed the saxophone orchestra, and taught middle and high school students at the FSU Summer Music Camps. He has also worked as part of the REW Music faculty in Lenexa, Kansas, where his students received top ratings in solo performance evaluations.

Most recently, Jared was a finalist in the 2023 International Artists Competition, received second prize in the Charleston International Competition, and was a recipient of the Semifinalist Laureate award at the 2022 Fernande Decruck International Competition for Saxophone in Paris, France. Other honors and accolades include being named finalist in both the 2016 Schwob Concerto Competition and the 2015 LaGrange Symphony Young Artist Concerto Competition.

Dr. Cummings holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Columbus State University, a Master of Music Performance degree from the University of Missouri - Kansas City, and a Doctor of Music degree in saxophone performance from Florida State University. His primary teachers include Geoffrey Deibel, Zachary Shemon, and Joseph Girard.