Background

Miguel Olivares is a saxophonist living in the central Texas area working primarily in San Antonio, Austin and San Marcos. Although trained as a classical saxophonist for the majority of his playing career, Miguel has been striving to perfect the art of jazz improvisation.

Miguel was introduced to jazz while attending the award-winning Waltrip High School under the direction of Charles Stephens, recent recipient of the prestigious Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation Award. While performing with the band as a saxophonist Miguel taught himself bass after being introduced to the improvisational work of Jimi Hendrix and was eventually recruited to perform with the school’s top jazz ensemble. As the bassist and student leader of the jazz ensemble and combo Miguel participated in the All-City High School jazz ensemble and won outstanding soloist awards at the Victoria College Jazz Festival as well as the Hill Country Jazz Festival.  During this time Miguel was fortunate enough to perform with trumpet legend Maynard Ferguson as well as with Grammy-winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum as a member of  legendary Houston jazz educator Conrad O. Johnson‘s Youth Orchestra.  At the same time Miguel continued to win awards as a classical saxophonist in University Interscholastic League (UIL) competitions and participated in Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-Region and All-District ensembles.

Upon graduation, he attended Texas State University-San Marcos and began studying saxophone with international-performing saxophone soloist Dr.Todd Oxford.  Miguel’s passion for jazz and the saxophone combined as he changed his major to a jazz studies performance degree.  As a jazz studies student he was recognized by the School of Music as the “Outstanding Jazz Studies Student” in 2010.  Throughout his college career he has had the privilege to study and perform with Andre Hayward, Butch Miles, Bob Mintzer, Marvin Stamm, Texas State Jazz Studies Co-Founder Freddie Mendoza, and recent MacDowell Fellowship recipient Hank Hehmsoth. After graduating from Texas State in 2011, Miguel plans on relocating to Austin, TX to continue performing as a jazz saxophonist as well as arrange and compose.

Location

San Marcos/Houston

Occupation

student

Music That Inspires Me

Walter Smith III, Robert Glasper Trio, Kendrick Scott Oracle, Eric Harland, Mike Moreno, Chris Potter, Terence Blanchard, Ambrose Akinmusire, Aaron Parks, etc.

Films I'll Watch More Than Once

Icons Among Us: Jazz in the Present Tense