Curriculum Vitae
Emma’s performance history and experience both in Australia and internationally is extensive and has made her a go-to saxophonist and educator in her home of Brisbane, Australia. The below is just a snapshot of her work over the past decade. In addition to this, Emma has built a wide-ranging presence on social media and you can explore Emma’s content on your favourite social media platform!
Qualifications & Awards
2021
Master of Teaching - CQU
2017
Churchill Fellowship
2016
Doctor of Philosophy - Griffith University
2011
Bachelor of Music in Advanced Performance with First Class Honours - Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University
Major: Classical Saxophone
Griffith University Medal for High Achievement
Griffith Award for Academic Excellence
2010, 2009, & 2008
Griffith Award for Academic Excellence
2008
L.Mus.A Saxophone (Distinction)
2006
A.Mus.A Saxophone
Teaching Appointments
2021 - Current
Casual Academic (Saxophone)
University of Queensland, Australia
2015 - Current
Head of Woodwinds and Caboolture Campus Coordinator
(Previous: Woodwind Instructor, Community Programs Coordinator)
Grace Academy, Grace Lutheran College
2014 - 2017
Sessional Lecturer in Saxophone
Queensland Conservatorium of Music
Further Teaching Employment History:
Somerville House, Queensland Youth Orchestras, Clayfield College, Cannon Hill Anglican College, Vivo College of Music
Tours & Soloist ENgagements
2018
Let the Darkness Out Tour with Catherine Likhuta
Performances in Kyiv, Ukraine and Zagreb, Croatia
2016
Emma Di Marco presents 'Shimmer'
A collection of solo works for saxophone and a celebration of Australian music.
Performances in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne
Barega Saxophone Quartet and Hourglass Ensemble
"Journey to the Underworld"
Performances in Brisbane and the Sydney Opera House
2014
Emma Di Marco: "East Coast Tour"
Performance Engagements in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, & Hobart
Collaborations with Barega Sax, Nathan Henshaw, Nexas Quartet, Anthony Voliutis, Benjamin Price
Barega Sax presents "Colossus"
Performance Engagements in Brisbane & Sydney
Collaborations with Andrew Kennedy, Annie Larsen, Steve Newcomb Orchestra
2012
Barega Saxophone Quartet Melbourne Tour Concert Collaboration with The Argot Project
2011
Soloist with the Queensland Conservatorium Wind Orchestra
2010
Performance with Mueller International Chamber Orchestra: Concerto in E flat Major for Alto Saxophone and String Orchestra
PODCASTS
2023
UNMUSICAL: Interviews with Leading Australian Classical Musicians
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, YouTube, and Podbean
2022
SAX BITES: The 5 Minute Saxophone Lesson Podcast
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, YouTube, and Podbean
CDS / RECORDINGS
2017
Abandon Control
Barega Saxophone Quartet
2015
Three Serpents
Barega Saxophone Quartet
2014
Charisma
Emma Di Marco Solo EP
Festivals, Conferences & CONCERT SERIES PERFORMANCES
2018
North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference
Cincinnati, OHIO
Solo Recital: Shimmer Australian Music for Solo Saxophone
XVIII World Saxophone Congress, Zagreb, Croatia
Recital: Motions with pianist Catherine Likhuta
Recital: Diptych with Barega Saxophone Quartet
2015
'SaxOpen' the World Saxophone Congress and Festival
Strasbourg, France
Solo Recital: 'Shimmer'
Saxophone & Piano Recital with David Howie (SYD): 'Let the Darkness Out'
Quartet Recital with Barega Sax: 'Airplay'
Recital with the Australian Saxophone Orchestra
2014
Barega Saxophone Quartet Feature Performance at Crossbows Festival, QCGU
2013
Australasian Saxophone and Clarinet Conference - Sydney, Australia Saxophone Recital: “The Solo Soprano”
Lecture: “Creating a Better Understanding of Classical Saxophone Performance in Australia”
Ensemble Recital: Barega Saxophone Presents “Plugged In” with Guest Artist Niels Bijl
Paint It Red Chamber Music Series - Juggler’s Art Space, Brisbane Duo Performance with Samantha Mason
Paint It Red Chamber Music Series - Juggler’s Art Space, Barega Saxophone Quartet performance
2012
Saxophone on Sundays Concert 1 - 4MBS, Brisbane Solo Performance and Collaboration with Barry Bobart
Saxophone on Sundays Concert 2 - 4MBS, Brisbane Barega Saxophone Quartet
Saxophone on Sundays Concert 3 - 4MBS, Brisbane Solo Performance2012
XVI World Saxophone Congress held at University of St Andrews, Scotland Barega Saxophone Quartet Feature Performance: “A Slice of Queensland”
Barega Saxophone Quartet performance with Trichotomy at Crossbows Festival for Small Ensembles
2011
Barega Saxophone Quartet – Performing Artists at the Australian Clarinet and Saxophone Festival held in Melbourne, Australia
Concertmaster of the Queensland Conservatorium Saxophone Orchestra at their performance at the Australian Clarinet and Saxophone Festival held in Melbourne, Australia
Collaborations, Bookings, & Freelance Work
2013 - Current
Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Casual Saxophonist
Sample of Previous Engagements (Prior to 2024)
Queensland Symphony Orchestra: Saxophone
Classical Rock Live Tour (Brisbane)
Mark Vincent & Mirusia with the Australian Symphony Orchestra (Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute)
Pub Choir
Disco Wonderland, Brisbane Festival
Sydney Saxophone Network Q&A Series
Bullhorn - Island Vibe Festival, Education Concerts (Tenor Sax, Bari Sax)
Online Virtuoso LIVE Masterclass
NOTABLE RESEARCH OUTPUTS
- Di Marco, E. (2017). Interpretation, intimacy and mediation: Understanding the performer-composer relationship within Australian classical saxophone music. In J. Lunn (Ed.), The Rites of Spring (pp. 253-267). Perth, WA: Black Swan Press.
- Di Marco, E. (2014). Australian Made: The Creation of New Australian Classical Saxophone Music. Eras Journal, 16(1), 23-36.
- Di Marco, E. (2014). 1. Movement 1: Out of Focus; 2. Movement 2: Pulse; Movement 3: Skyline, 2am; 4. Fireflies. On Charisma, Emma Di Marco, EP, Bandcamp. Brisbane, Australia.
- Di Marco, E., Mason, S., Henderson, S., & Ball, A. (2015). 1. Rush; 2. Three Serpents; 3. Gossamer Parley; 4. Pondside; 5 - 10. Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm; 11. Antikythera Mechanism; 12 - 14. Trois Chansons; 15. Simpler Times; 16. Spring and Rust is in Bloom. On Three Serpents, Barega Saxophone Quartet, Bandcamp. Brisbane, Australia.
- Di Marco, E., Mason, S., Henderson, S., Porter, A., & Ball, A. (2017). 1. Chthonic Fanfare; 2. Hard to Argue; 3. Pleasure Savors the Sweet Instructions; 4. Rustle; 5. Abandon Control Cast Fire; 6. Dream of Forgotten Twilight; 7. Into the White. On Abandon Control, Barega Saxophone Quartet, Bandcamp. Brisbane, Australia.
- Di Marco, E. (2016). Sounding the Horn: Examining the Live Performance Practices of Australian Classical Saxophonists [Doctoral Dissertation]. Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- Di Marco, E. (2011). A Daily Technical Routine and Australian Tertiary Level Classical Saxophonists (Honours Dissertation). Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- Di Marco, E. (2015, October). Sounding the Horn: Exploring the lessons to be learned from Australia’s leading classical saxophonists and the impacts for emerging musicians. Paper presented at the 38th National MSA Conference ‘Musical Dialogues’, Sydney, Australia.
- Di Marco, E. (2015, July). Let the Darkness Out. Recital presented at the XVII World Saxophone Congress and Festival ‘SaxOpen’, Strasbourg, France
- Di Marco, E. (2015, July). Shimmer. Recital presented at the XVII World Saxophone Congress and Festival ‘SaxOpen’, Strasbourg, France.
- Di Marco, E. (2015, July). Airplay. Recital presented at the XVII World Saxophone Congress and Festival ‘SaxOpen’, Strasbourg, France.
-Di Marco, E. (2014, June). The Entrepreneurial Saxophonist: What does it mean to be a modern day classical musician? Paper presented at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University Postgraduate Symposium, Brisbane, Australia.
- Di Marco, E. (2014, June). The Aliens Have Landed: The Future of Classical Saxophone Music in Australia. Paper presented at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University Postgraduate Symposium, Brisbane, Australia.
- Di Marco, E. (2013, November). Live Performance: Examining the Performance Contexts of Classical Saxophone Music in Australia. Paper presented at the IMC 5th World Forum on Music, Brisbane, Australia.
Artistic Directorships & Event Management
2017 & 2018
Queensland Clarinet and Saxophone Annual Competition
2013 & 2014
Queensland Clarinet and Saxophone Society Student Concert Series
Queensland Clarinet and Saxophone Society 'Super Saxophone Day'
2012
Saxophone on Sundays - Brisbane Concert Series 3 Concerts at 4MBS across 3 Months
Sponsored by Sirromet Wines
Editorships
2014
Australian Clarinet and Saxophone Magazine Volume 16 Issues 1 & 2
Australian Clarinet and Saxophone Magazine Volume 15 Issue 4
Competitions
2011
Selected Finalist in the Under 30’s Saxophone Competition at the Australian Clarinet and Saxophone Festival held in Melbourne, Australia
2010
Queensland Clarinet and Saxophone Society Annual Competition 2010 Solo Saxophone Open Section: 2nd Place
2009
Queensland Clarinet and Saxophone Society Annual Competition 2009 Solo Saxophone Open Section: 1st Place
2008
Queensland Clarinet & Saxophone Society Annual Competition 2008 Solo Saxophone 17 years and under: 1st place
Queensland Clarinet & Saxophone Society Annual Competition 2008 Open Ensemble: 1st Place
Queensland Clarinet and Saxophone Society Annual Competition 2008 Solo Saxophone Open Section: 3rd Place
National Band Championships 2008
Saxophone Division: 1st Place
Ensembles
2013 - Present
Barega Saxophone Quartet Soprano Saxophone
Queensland Symphony Orchestra: Saxophone
2012
Barega Saxophone Quartet Soprano/Alto Saxophone
2008-2011
Barega Saxophone Quartet Alto Saxophone
Queensland Conservatorium Saxophone Orchestra Concertmaster and Principal Soprano Saxophone
Queensland Conservatorium Wind Orchestra Principal Alto Saxophone
Queensland Wind Orchestra Principal Alto Saxophone
Queensland Conservatorium Wind Orchestra Baritone Saxophone
Queensland Youth Symphony Alto Saxophone Queensland Wind Orchestra Alto Saxophone
Queensland Conservatorium Repertoire Orchestra Principal Alto Saxophone
Queensland Conservatorium Clarinet Choir B Flat Clarinet
2007
Barega Saxophone Quartet Soprano Saxophone - Founding Member
Further Education
2011
Student at the 22nd European University of Saxophone held in Gap, France working with Claude Delangle, Lars Mlekuesch, Damien Royannais, Vincent David, Masataka Hirano and the Diastema Saxophone Quartet
2010
Student at the 21st European University of Saxophone held in Gap, France working with Claude Delangle, Arno Bornkamp, Damien Royannais, Vincent David, Masataka Hirano and the Habanera Saxophone Quartet