Karl has been making music for 22 years. He started playing alto saxophone in 6th grade, but soon made the switch to baritone because he wanted to play the saxophone “with the loop on top.” This led to many great ensemble experiences in high school, including playing in the top concert band, jazz band, and saxophone quartet. While playing in quartet, Karl discovered how well baroque fugues and classical string quartet music transferred to saxophone, which sparked his interest in classical music.
After high school, Karl continued his music education at the University of the Pacific, where he studied with renowned classical saxophonist David Henderson, refining his individual and ensemble performance techniques. In college, he took part in numerous performances with his saxophone quartet and the school wind ensemble, including recording a CD at Lucasfilm’s world class Skywalker Ranch and participating in national saxophone conventions with students from around the country. When teaching, Karl believes it is important to know the student’s motivations and goals. He tailors his approach to each student, helping them achieve their goals while also building a strong foundation of skills fundamental to all styles of music.