Todd Pray

Todd Pray

Tenor / Alto Saxophone

Todd W. Pray currently serves as the District Band Director at Peru Central School, where he conducts three Concert Bands, directs the Jazz, Marching, and Pep Bands, and teaches small group woodwind, brass, and percussion lessons to students in grades 4-12. He also serves as Adjunct Faculty/Saxophone Instructor at SUNY Plattsburgh and teaches a private saxophone studio made up of students of all ages.

Aside from his teaching career, Pray maintains an active performance schedule, regularly appearing with the Frontier Saxophone Quartet (recipients of a 2007 Rockefeller Philanthropy Grant through North Country Public Radio’s UpNorth Music project), the Adirondack Wind Ensemble (AWE), the Northern Symphonic Winds (NSW), and the Adirondack Jazz Orchestra (AJO). He also appears periodically as guest soloist or woodwind player for a wide variety of ensembles. He has been fortunate enough to play in Alice Tully Hall at New York City’s Lincoln Center, and performances with various ensembles have enabled him to perform throughout the Eastern United States and Canada.

Pray has directed the Adirondack Youth Orchestra since January of 2008. He has also led the CCMEA All-County Band and Symphony Orchestra and served as conductor for several Broadway-style musicals presented by Peru Music Theatre and Adirondack Regional Theatre.

Mr. Pray received his Master’s Degree in Saxophone Performance and Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the Ithaca College School of Music in Ithaca, NY, while studying with renowned saxophonist and pedagogue Dr. Steven Mauk. He also holds an Associate’s Degree in Music Education and Performance from Schenectady County Community College in Schenectady, NY, where he studied with saxophonist, clarinetist, and conductor Mr. Brett Wery.