About the Artist

At 12 years old, all Teylor Patak knew was that she didn’t want to join choir. Therefore, when her stepmother approached her and asked, “Choir, or band?” when trying to create her 6th grade schedule, there wasn’t even a second of hesitation as she blurted out, “I don’t want to join choir”.

Next thing she knew, there was a clarinet mouthpiece in her hand, and she was making some form of a squeaking sound on it that seemed to please the band director.

“She could play clarinet or saxophone!” He claimed. Her stepmom looked at her with a smile,

“Saxophone would be really cool Tey!”

Bam, her world was changed.

That was the moment that completely decided her path for the next 10 years. She went on to practice for the purpose of pleasing her family, and being the best musician she could be, and was rewarded throughout high school with honors such as All-State musician, Outstanding Soloist, 1st chair saxophonist in the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, and was featured as a concerto soloist at her high school band Spring concert during her junior year.It was pretty clear to her that music was what she wanted to do, and making the decision to apply to UNT seemed to be the best option. She was accepted, and immediately found herself studying under the head professor of Classical saxophone at the University, and auditioned her way to a

spot in the UNT Symphonic band, the 2nd ensemble at the University. There she has competed consecutively in the concerto competition, received outstanding grades on jury performances, given multiple recitals, been a soloist during band concerts, and even been a part of the world’s 2nd ever premiere of a new Bruce Broughton piece “Spacious Skies” for saxophone quartet. She performed with her quartet members on soprano saxophone for the first ever live performance of the piece.

Aside from music, Teylor has found a passion in other arts as well. Throughout her time in high school, she was in art classes, where she competed in V.A.S.E. competition 2 years in a row with honorable mentions from the judges. She also discovered a passion for dance through performing with a colorguard group, and is currently performing with the WGI Independent World Group CGT Dallas, who has placed as high as top 5 in the World finals competition. 
Currently, Teylor is preparing for her senior recital on March 27th, 2019 in the UNT Recital Hall., her last major project as a double music major at the University, and she hopes you will join her in this final performance. She also teaches privately at Tidwell middle school, and hopes to teach her students about the joy in the process of preparing and performing music for the enjoyment of oneself and others. Teylor hopes to instill in her students a knowledge of music that allows them to be independent musicians, and to find happiness in expression of the arts.