D e n n i s  K w o k
Classical  Saxophonist  I  Baritone Saxophone Specialist  I  Pedagogue

Dennis Kwok Tsz Kiu is passionate about drawing audiences deeply into the art of music and has imprinted his passion in music all over the world, including Asia, North America and Europe, as an active soloist as well as a chamber musician. In recent years, Dennis has made remarkable accomplishments as a soloist, quartet and ensemble musician. In 2013, he was awarded the Saxophone Winner of the Yamaha Young Performing Artist Competition. As a baritone saxophonist of the Colere Quartet from the University of Iowa, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the prestigious Fischoff Chamber Music Competition in 2020, and was awarded the First Prize of the Plowman Chamber Music Competition in 2019. As a member of the Iowa Saxophonists’ Workshop Ensemble, he recorded 2 albums, “Contemplation” in 2014 and "Danzon" in 2021.

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In October 2013, Dennis participated in the 6th Adolphe Sax International Competition. He advanced to the Live Round and competed in Dinant, Belgium, in October 2014. In March 2017, Dennis, as the baritone saxophonist of the ICON quartet from the University of Iowa, advanced to the national round of the MTNA Chamber Music Competition. 

 

Besides various competitions, Dennis is also an active performer within communities of his hometown Hong Kong and other countries. Over the years, his local professional ensemble appearances include performances with the Hong Kong Wind Philharmonia, Hong Kong Chamber Wind Philharmonia, Alliance Primary School Kowloon Tong Wind Band, Diocesan Boys’ School Wind Band, Hong Kong Saxophone Ensemble, Hong Kong Youth Saxophone Choir, Peninsula Quartet and Opus a la carte. In United States, he had attended and performed at the North American Saxophone Alliance conferences at Arizona, Illinois, Cincinnati, Texas and more. Internationally, Dennis attended and performed at the 18th Saxophone World Congress at Zagreb, Croatia in July 2018. As a member of the Colere quartet, Dennis has been actively performing at various institutions and conferences in the area of Midwestern America, including Augustana College, Monmouth College and the University of Minnesota. Dennis performed with numerous renowned saxophonists, including Nathan Bogert, Alain Crepin, Vincent David, Asya Fateyeva, Jean-Yves Fourmeau, Philippe Geiss, Jean-Michel Goury, Masato Kumoi, Stephen Page, Nobuya Sugawa and Kenneth Tse.

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Dennis started learning saxophone at the age of 6 and had studied with Mr. Martin Choi, Miss Jennifer To and Mr. Michael Campbell. He holds Bachelor Degree in Music Performance (2016), with the Meredith Willson scholarship, Master Degree in Arts (2018) and Doctor Degree in Musical Arts (2022) from the University of Iowa. Currently, he is pursuing Doctorate Degree in Musical Arts at the University of Iowa, under the tutelage of leading saxophonist Dr. Kenneth Tse. He has also served as the saxophone instructor of the New Horizons Community Band at Iowa City from 2017 to 2019.