ZACHARY COSTELLO

Zachary Costello is an award-winning saxophonist dedicated to breaking down barriers between performers and audiences through accessible, engaging, and immersive musical experiences. Born in South Korea and raised in Maryland, United States,  he has received national and international recognition for his artistry, most recently being named a Yamaha Young Performing Artist and winning Grand Prize and the Young Artist Award at the Naftzger Young Artist Competition. He also earned Second Prize in the 2025 Vandoren Emerging Artist Competition and was a finalist and prizewinner at the 2024 Andorra Saxfest International Saxophone Competition, where he performed as a soloist with the National Classical Orchestra of Andorra. Previously, Zachary won Second Prize at the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) National Solo Competition after advancing through regional and state rounds, and he was honored with the Hans Schaeuble Award in Switzerland in 2022.

 

A passionate chamber musician, Zachary serves as the soprano chair of PULSE, an award-winning saxophone quartet committed to bringing music to unconventional spaces and forging deeper audience connections. As artists-in-residence at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, PULSE has been part of the Sound Garden Project, a program that plants music in unexpected places to engage diverse communities. The ensemble has been recognized with the Lift Every Voice Prize at the 2024 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, First Prize at the Glass City and NOLA Chamber Music Competitions, and Second Prize at the Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition. Zachary has also performed at the Arosa Klassik Festival in Switzerland with multiple ensembles.

 

Beyond performance, Zachary is deeply invested in arts administration and community engagement, striving to expand the reach of classical and contemporary music. He is an Artist Ambassador for JLV Sound and has appeared in masterclasses led by Vincent David, Lars Mlekusch, Christian Wirth, Timothy McAllister, Otis Murphy, Christopher Creviston, and Stephen Page.

 

Zachary holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Michigan State University, where he studied under Professor Joseph Lulloff, and is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree at the Eastman School of Music under Professor Chien-Kwan Lin, where he also serves as a Graduate Assistant.