David Hodgson, the return from NYC

Through music, saxophonist, composer, and educator David Hodgson explores compassion and poetic spontaneity. Since graduating the University of Toronto’s Jazz Performance Program in 2021, David continues to establish himself as an ambitious and lyrical artist in Toronto’s vibrant music scene. Music has been an important part of David’s life from age 5, and participation in the 2017 National Youth Jazz Combo, the 2016 Berklee Jazz Workshop, and the 2015 and 2016 Conn-Selmer Centre-Stage Jazz Band inspired deep appreciation of Black American Musical traditions and passion for sonic expression. David currently leads and composes for Stil Trio and David Hodgson4, mixing improvised and through-composed elements of Black American Music, Classical, and Folk. In addition to finding inspiration from musical colleagues and teachers, visual art and design influence David’s identity as a musician and artist. He is the recipient of the 2020 Oscar Peterson Developing Artist Grant, the 2017 Yamaha Performance and Passion Award, the 2017 Fraser MacPherson Jazz Fund, and the 2016 Golden Reed Award. David has performed at jazz festivals and venues across Canada, the USA, and Europe, and has had the privilege of studying with the University of Toronto’s distinguished faculty, Seamus Blake, Steve Kaldestad, Kirk MacDonald, Terell Stafford, and Terri Lyne Carrington.