Kenji Omae is a Canadian Jazz saxophonist based in Nova Scotia, Canada. He has been described as “a super-articulate virtuoso” (Peter Hum-The Ottawa Citizen) and “may be the most exciting tenor saxophonist to emerge in Canada in recent years” (Stuart Broomer-The WholeNote). He has released three albums of original music as a leader; “Story Time” (2015), “Not So Deep” (2011), “Here For Now” (2007). In addition to his own recordings, he is featured as a sideman on over thirty jazz CD’s. From 2003-2017, he was based in Seoul as a full time instructor of saxophone (Dong-Ah Institute Of Media And Arts and Paek-Che Art College). He was an active contributor to the music scene of Seoul through his frequent performances and extensive teaching. In 2007, he won the first prize in the Jarasum International Jazz Festival competition.
Kenji has a Master of Arts Degree in Jazz Performance from CUNY/Queen’s College in New York. He is currently on faculty at Saint Francis Xavier University where he maintains a Saxophone studio and teaches classes that include Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Harmony, and Jazz History.
Kenji is sponsored by St. Francis Xavier University
