Trent Kynaston, born December 7, 1946 in Tucson, Arizona, is an American jazz and classical saxophonist, music educator, and composer. Since 1973, he has been on the faculty of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo,[1] where he serves as professor of saxophone and jazz studies. Professor Kynaston holds a Bachelor of Music degree in saxophone performance and music education and a Master of Music degree in Composition from the University of Arizona. In addition, he holds the Medaille d'Honneur in saxophone and chamber music from the Bordeaux Conservatory where he was a student of Jean-Marie Londeix, and he has also studied privately with Larry Teal.
As a classical saxophonist, Professor Kynaston has premiered a number of works, including both the "Sonata" and the "Concerto" for saxophone by Robert Muczynski and "Unisonics" by fellow-WMU faculty member Curtis Curtis-Smith. Kynaston has also composed a number of pieces, including the "Concerto" (1976), "Coryblant-Bleu" (1980, written for Jean-Marie Londeix and the International Saxophone Ensemble of Bordeaux), "Deux ombres de jade-Sonate" (1995), and a number of other works. As a pedagogue, he has written several books, including "Daily Studies for all Saxophones, "The Saxophone Intonation Workbook," and "Circular Breathing for the Wind Performer."
Also a prolific jazz saxophonist, Professor Kynaston has recorded and performed with numerous high-profile jazz artists, including Art Farmer, Kenny Werner, and Randy Brecker. Currently, he is the saxophonist and a resident composer for the Western Jazz Quartet, a world-renowned faculty group at WMU.