Naomi Sullivan

Professor of Saxophone (Senior Tutor)

Naomi is a saxophonist and teacher with a focus on collaboration, new music, chamber music, and teaching.

Her experience in education includes 18 years as Head of Saxophone at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, in addition to which she has given numerous masterclasses and performances in the UK and abroad. She regularly works with young musicians, including those of NYO, BCMG and AYM.

Collaboration has led to performance projects in South Africa, Taiwan, the USA and Europe.

As a soloist, Naomi was part of the 2022- 2024 Illuminate Women’s Music team, working with pianists Yshani Perinpanayagam and Kumi Matsuo. She regularly performs with organist and pianist Charles Matthews and in 2025 worked with composer and pianist Dave Smith, performing Albanian Summer, his 1980 picaresque for saxophone and piano.

Her chamber recordings include the Laefer Quartet’s Strata, released in 2024. Also, Flotilla, led by Kyle Horch, Syzygy’s recording of Songs for the Coming Day by David Maslanka and other new music recordings with the Gemini Ensemble.

As an orchestral musician, she has played with many UK-based orchestras, including the Aurora Orchestra’s 2025 production of Carnival.

Naomi studied at Chetham’s School of Music with Jim Muirhead, the Royal College of Music with Kyle Horch, and Northwestern University with Frederick Hemke. Her studies were supported by the Countess of Munster and Help Musician’s UK.

She is Chair of the Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain and is an endorsee of Selmer Paris Saxophones and D’Addario reeds.