Saxophonist and music educator Dr. Derek Granger is an award-winning soloist, chamber musician, teacher, and advocate for new music. He has held positions as Instructor of Saxophone at West Chester University of Pennsylvania Wells School of Music, Visiting Assistant Professor of Saxophone in the Tarleton State University Department of Performing Arts, Associate Instructor of Saxophone in the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and Director of Choirs at Flowing Wells High School in Tucson, Arizona. Now based in Annapolis, Maryland, Granger teaches secondary instrumental music in Anne Arundel County Public Schools.

Since his concerto debut with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, reviewed by the Arizona Daily Star as "...simply sublime, with perfect tone and control," Granger has appeared as a soloist with the Hartt Wind Ensemble, the Utah Valley University Wind Symphony, and the University of Arizona Wind Ensemble. He has garnered awards at MTNA national competitions, the Indianapolis Matinee Musicale Collegiate Competition, the Hartt Chamber Music Competition, the Paranov Concerto Competition, and the Cyprus International Music Competition. As a chamber musician, Granger has given recitals and residencies across the American Southwest and Mexico with the Presidio Saxophone Quartet and Catalina Quartet, respectively. He can be heard with Catalina Quartet performing Alaric I or II by Gavin Bryars on America’s Millennium Tribute to Adolphe Sax Volume XIV, published by Arizona University Recordings. 

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Granger is committed to the creation of new solo and chamber works for saxophone, with recent premieres including The Angel of History by Robert Rankin (concerto), non-poem 8 by Jonathan Ragonese (solo saxophone), Wood Song by Jenni Brandon (version for soprano saxophone), and Deep State by Robert Rankin (saxophone and mixed percussion). His 2020 collaboration with poet Patrick Kindig, The Quarantine Variations, comprises thirty poems (by Kindig) with newly composed musical responses (by Granger) created during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. 

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As an educator, Granger blends his varied experiences as choral director and saxophonist in research that pursues an evidence-based approach to saxophone pedagogy modeled on modern voice pedagogy. While teaching at Flowing Wells High School, Derek’s four choirs earned superior and excellent ratings at Arizona ACDA State Festival, NAU Jazz and Madrigal Festival, and appeared in concert with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. Committed to secondary education, Derek currently teaches band and orchestra at Southern Middle School in Anne Arundel County Public Schools and serves on the faculty of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in northern Michigan during the summer months.

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Derek holds degrees from The Hartt School (DMA), Indiana University (MM), and the University of Arizona (BM). His primary teachers include Carrie Koffman, Otis Murphy, Kelland Thomas, and Timothy McAllister.