Dr. Gail B. Levinsky serves as Professor of Music at Susquehanna University, where her responsibilities include teaching applied studies in saxophone, chamber music, and woodwind methods.
As a solo and chamber artist, her presentations are varied and include concerto with band and orchestra, recitals, as well as presentations at the North American Saxophone Alliance, World Saxophone Congress, British Saxophone Congress, US Navy Saxophone Symposium, International Alliance for Women in Music, and the Mississippi Festival of Women Composers, International Association of Women in Music, and International Double Reed Society. She has commissioned compositions by distinguished composers such as Marilyn Shrude, Stephanie Berg, Miho Sasaki, Ash Graham, Patrick Long, Matthew Quayle, Andrea Clearfield, Douglas McConnell, and Frank Ferko.
Levinsky has several recordings to her credit, including her most recent release Quiet Hearts: Music for Saxophone (AMP Recordings). Quiet Hearts explores solo and chamber repertoire written by women and non-binary composers and received a silver medal for an outstanding contemporary classical recording by the Global Music Awards in 2024. She can also be heard on the recent release of Matthew Quayle’s Woodwind Chamber Music (Centaur) recording.
A passionate educator, Dr. Levinsky regularly presents at state music education symposiums, including the MENC Eastern Region Conference, NAfME State Conferences (Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware), and the Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic (‘19, ‘15, ‘07). Her publications are varied and consist of an updated edition of Rosemary Lang’s “Beginning Altissimo Method” (Ensemble Publications); Music for Saxophone & Organ (Lyceum Publications), the saxophone chapters in “Teaching Woodwinds: A Guide for Students and Teachers” (Mountain Peak Music), and several saxophone choir arrangements, including Tomás Victorria’s “O Vos Omnes”.
Dr. Levinsky completed her graduate degrees (MM, Performer’s Certificate, DM) from Northwestern University and her Bachelor of Music Education from Butler University. She is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda and Kappa Delta Pi honor fraternities. Dr. Levinsky has served as Treasurer, Secretary, and Region 8 Director for the North American Saxophone Alliance. During the summer, she serves as Artistic Director for the internationally recognized Frederick L. Hemke Saxophone Institute and a faculty member for the New England Music Camp in Sidney, Maine.
Dr. Levinsky performs on Selmer Paris saxophones and Vandoren mouthpieces, reeds, and ligatures.
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• Organic Architectures for Oboe, Saxophone, and Piano by Coleman Rowlett.
• Suite for Oboe, Saxophone, and Piano by Douglas McConnell
• Trio Arundi by Jonathan Green. For oboe, saxophone, and piano. Performance date, December 2023. Commissioned for the XIX World Saxophone Congress,
• Trio for Oboe, Saxophone, and Piano by Patrick Long. For oboe, saxophone, and piano. Performance date, December 2023. Commissioned for the XIX World Saxophone Congress.
• The Love that Moves the Sun and the Other Stars by Paul Dickinson. For oboe, saxophone, and piano. Premiere, March 2023
• Facets by Karen Griebling.For oboe, saxophone, and piano. Premiere date, June 2022
• A Shining Synergy by Douglas McConnell. For Soprano/Alto Saxophone duo. Dedicated and premiered, October 2021.
• Kingfish Levinsky, by Michael Schelle. Foroboe, saxophone, and piano.
• A Justice for All by Stephanie Berg. For oboe, saxophone, and piano. Premiere IDRS National Conference, August 2022.
• Women to Vote Together for Change by Erin Graham. For solo saxophone and electronics. Commissioned and premiered, February 2020.
• Reminiscence: Three Meditations on Friendship, Francine Trester, May 2019. For Alto Saxophone & Piano, Worldwide Concurrent Commissioning Project.
• Komrebi, Miho Sasaki, (solo saxophone) Commission and premiere, March 2019.
• Quiet Hearts: A Kaddish, (solo saxophone), Marilyn Shrude. Premiere March 2016.
• Langston's Lot: Song is a Strong Thing, Douglas McConnell. For soprano voice, alto saxophone, and piano. Premiere March 2019.
• Margaret--the "Bread Lady of New Orleans,” William Horne. For flute, alto saxophone, and piano. Premiere, NASA Biennial, March 2016.
• Sonata for Alto Saxophone & Piano, Matthew Quayle. Commissioned by and dedicated to Gail Levinsky. World Saxophone Congress, Strasbourg, France, Premiere, July 2015,
• Ragahoro Breakdown, Gregory Wanamaker. Gregory Wanamaker Consortium. For B-flat Clarinet and E-flat Alto Saxophone.
• This Arc Towards Justice, Andrea Clearfield. Commissioned by Susquehanna University in honor of Martin Luther King Holiday. For alto saxophone, soprano voice, and piano. Premiere January 2014.
• Happy Endings for Tenor Saxophone and Piano, Douglas McConnell.Premiere, March 2012, NASA Biennial Conference, Tempe, AZ.
• Variations for Flute, Alto Saxophone, and Piano, Matthew Quayle. Premiere, March 2010, NASA Biennial Conference, Athens, GA.
• Still the Fire for Alto Saxophone, Cello, and Piano, John Anthony Lennon. Margot Music Fund, participant.
• Sonata for Saxophone & Piano, Jason Bahr. Premiere, November 2007, Mississippi Music Teachers Association Conference. Dedicated to Gail Levinsky
• The Miraculous Tale for Saxophone and Derabucca, Halim El-Dabh. Worldwide Concurrent Commissioning Project.
• Sun Dance for Two Alto Saxophones & Piano, Matthew Quayle. Commissioned and dedicated to Gail Levinsky. Premiere, January 19, 2006, Penn State, NASA Region 8 Conference.
• Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble, Patrick Long. Commissioned and dedicated to Gail Levinsky. Premiere, April 30, 2006, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA.
• Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano, James Aikman. Commissioned and dedicated to Gail Levinsky. Premiere, October 2002, Wales (UK) School of Dance, Drama, and Music.
• Barcarolle for Alto Saxophone and Live Electronics, Patrick Long Commissioned by Gail Levinsky. Premiere, March 2002, North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference Dedicated to Gail Levinsky by the composer.
• Sonata for Baritone Saxophone and Piano, William Price Premiere, March 2000, Biennial Conference of the North American Saxophone. Alliance, Arizona State, University, Tucson, AR.
• Nebulae for Alto Saxophone & Organ, Frank Ferko. Premiere, March 1998, Biennial Conference of the North American Saxophone Alliance, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. Dedicated to Gail Levinsky by the composer.
• Around the Clock for Alto Saxophone & Tape, Michael Kallstrom. Premiere, February 20, 1996, Jackson, MS. Dedicated to Gail Levinsky by the composer.
• Langston’s Lot for Tenor Voice, Alto Saxophone, and Piano, Douglas McConnell. Dedicated to Gail Levinsky Premiere, February 1997, Starkville, MS.
• Night Light-Quartet No. 3 for Saxophone Quartet, M. William KarlinsWorld Premiere, August 7, 1993, Cincinnati, OH. Commissioned by the Vision Saxophone Quartet
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Soprano: Selmer Paris Series III - Jubilee, Vandoren SL4, Vandoren MO (pink gold), Vandoren 3.5 reeds
Alto: Selmer Paris Supreme, Vandoren AL3, Ishmori Standard, Vandoren 3 reeds
Tenor: Selmer Paris Series III (matte finsih), Vandoren Profile, Vandoren MO, Vandoren 3.5 reeds
Baritone: Selmer Paris Series II, Vandoren BL3, Vandoren MO, Vandoren 3.5 reeds
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*World Saxophone Congress, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria
*International Navy Band Saxophone Symposium
*Maryland Music Education Conference
*Pennsylvania Music Education Conference
