Described as having an “effective sense of phrasing and dynamic sensitivity” (Florida Classical Review), saxophonist Dannel Espinoza is an award-winning soloist and chamber musician who has been lauded as one of the outstanding young artists in his field. He is currently the Assistant Professor of Saxophone at the University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Espinoza has been a featured musician with the Miami City Ballet, the Miami Symphony Orchestra, with the community building new music initiative, Zimmerman’s Cafe in Lake Worth, FL and as a soloist at the 2016 CBDNA conference. As a competitive soloist Dr. Espinoza was awarded second prize at the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition, and was winner of the Arizona Music Teachers Association Young Artist Competition (2006 and 2007), Tucson Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition (second place 2006), and was named the winner of the Southwest Region for the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition (2007).

Dr. Espinoza is a founding member, and soprano saxophonist, of the award-winning saxophone quartet Project Fusion, an ensemble that has been praised for “elevating the saxophone to its rightful throne.”(LA Splash Magazine) In 2013, Project Fusion became the first saxophone quartet to be awarded the Grand Prize and Audience Choice Award at the Plowman Chamber Music Competition. In that same year they were also awarded 1st place at the Music Teacher National Association Chamber Music Competition and Gold Medal at the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. Project Fusion has also won top prizes at the Arriaga Chamber Music Competition (2012) as well as the Coleman-Saunderson award at the Coleman International Chamber Ensemble Competition (2012). Now Astral Artists Laureates, Project Fusion presents performances, workshops, and clinics throughout the US and abroad to students and audiences of all kinds. Dr. Espinoza is a D’Addario Performing Artist and has performed throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.