James Forger is professor of saxophone and dean of the College of Music at Michigan State University. He has maintained an active role as a saxophone performer appearing regularly with the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra. He has performed as soloist and collaborative musician with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Warsaw Philharmonic, and Grand Rapids Symphony. He has toured widely as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe, Asia, Russia, South America and the United States. A leader in the commissioning, performance, and recording of new works for the saxophone, he has commissioned or premiered works including those by Milton Babbitt, George Crumb, Donald Martino, Maureen Reyes Lavastida, John Anthony Lennon, David Liptak, Donald Martino, Charles Ruggiero, Morton Subotnick, and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich.