Jonathan Yanik
A Versatile Navy Musician
Musician Jonathan Yanik, a native of Simsbury, CT, USA now lives and works in Washington, DC. He earned his Masters of Music in Saxophone from University of Michigan, where he studied Saxophone with Donald Sinta and Jazz Saxophone with Dr. Andrew Bishop, graduating with Highest Academic Honors. Prior to studying at Michigan, Jonathan earned his Bachelors of Music Education with high distinction from Indiana University in summer 2007, where he studied Saxophone with Dr. Otis Murphy.
Jonathan is a versatile and enthusiastic musician who performs Saxophone, Clarinet, and Flute in many different musical settings including Orchestra, Jazz and/Combo, Chamber Music, Rock, and Pit Orchestra. Before moving to the Washington area, Jonathan worked as a musician in the Queen’s room Orchestra, playing Jazz, Dance band, and Popular styles aboard the UK owned Cunard Cruise Lines Queen Victoria. He has also been successful in competitions, most notably winning the Grand Prize in the Heida Hermanns International Woodwind Competition in 2008. Jonathan has commissioned and premiered a number of new works for Saxophone, including leading a consortium for David Biedenbender's Dreams in the Dusk in January 2013.
Yanik is currently a member of the United States Navy Band, the premier Wind Ensemble of the US Navy, being selected by audition in 2008, reporting in 2009, and appointed Principal Saxophonist in 2011. Jonathan served as Adjunct Professor of Saxophone at Towson University in Towson, MD, USA from 2011-2014. In his free time Jonathan enjoys playing tennis, running, reading, travelling, craft beer, fantasy football, and watching the Boston Celtics.