Carl Raven

Carl Raven is a Professor of Saxophone at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), part of the University of Manchester. He also serves as a saxophone tutor at Chetham’s School of Music and Manchester University. As a performer, he is a freelance saxophonist specializing in contemporary classical music, improvisation, and electronic integration. Raven is a founding member of the House of Bedlam ensemble and a core member of the Apollo Saxophone Quartet, which has won multiple awards including the Royal OverSeas League and Tokyo International Chamber Music Competition. His work spans orchestral performances with groups like the Hallé and BBC Philharmonic, solo recordings on Naxos and Turquoise Coconut, and innovative projects combining saxophone with MaxMSP programming and electronic sensors. Recent highlights include the 2024 album 'Memoire, Horizon' featuring Jürg Frey’s minimalist compositions and a 2021 electronics project premiered at Dartington Festival.

He holds affiliations with institutions including the RNCM, Chetham’s, and Manchester University, and maintains active roles as a guest principal saxophonist across major orchestras. Raven’s research focuses on expanding saxophone techniques through electronics, with projects exploring spatial composition and sensor-based performance. He has premiered works by composers like Christopher Fox and Larry Goves, and his teaching emphasizes both traditional and experimental saxophone pedagogy.