Todd Goranson, Assistant Professor Saxophone and Bassoon and Jazz Ensemble Director, is a native of the Pacific Northwest. He holds the Bachelor of Music degree (Saxophone and Bassoon Performance) and the Master of Music degree (Saxophone Performance) from the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree (Bassoon Performance) from West Virginia University. In addition to maintaining active private studios, Goranson has held previous teaching positions at Frostburg State University and the Cumberland Music Academy. 

His recent symphonic saxophone engagements have included performances with the Dallas Wind Symphony, Plano Symphony, Irving Symphony, Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra, and as a member of Triforia Winds. An active saxophonist in jazz and popular idioms, he has performed with artists including Ray Charles, Lionel Hampton, Sandi Patti, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, and the Billy Price Band.   During his time in Texas, he has been a featured jazz saxophone soloist with the Plano Symphony for concerts at the Eisemann Center and Meyerson Hall, receiving praise from the Dallas Morning News.  Dr. Goranson has taught saxophone master classes at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, Oklahoma State Univesity, and Southern Arkansas University.  He has adjudicated for state solo & ensemble competitions in Texas and Idaho, was the director/clinician of the 2007 ATSSB Region 3 All-Region Jazz Ensemble, and was recently named Interim Board Member (Jazz) for the College Music Society South Central Region..  He has been the director of the Texas A&M University Jazz Ensemble since January 2006.

Also an accomplished bassoonist, Dr. Goranson is in his seventh season as principal bassoon for both the Plano Symphony and the Irving Symphony orchestras.  He has also performed with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Jalisco (Mexico), Dallas Wind Symphony, Shreveport Symphony (LA), Longview Symphony (TX), Texarkana Symphony (TX), Marshall Symphony (TX), West Virginia Symphony, the Kingsport Symphony (TN), the Westmoreland Symphony (PA), and Opera Roanoke (VA).  His principal saxophone teachers include Robert Miller, Barry Bergstrom and Curtis Johnson, and his bassoon teachers have included Ronald Klimko, Terry Ewell, and Winston Collier.