Johanna McGuire is a Baltimore based saxophonist. Her love for music started at an early age, when her parents would take her to group music classes, as well as various concerts. However, her love for Jazz started when she would visit her grandparents’ house where there would always be jazz playing in the house, thanks to her grandfather’s love of the music. Johanna holds a degree in Jazz Saxophone Performance at Towson University, where she studied under the esteemed Jason Rigby. Johanna’s focus is on saxophone; however her array of expertise encompasses doubling on all woodwind instruments, primarily flute and clarinet.

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Her performance experience continues to grow, performing in various groups as well as composing original music for her quartet. During her undergraduate career, Johanna was a member of the Towson University Jazz Orchestra, under the instruction of Jim McFalls and Dave Ballou, and has also performed in various groups and ensembles, including the Towson University Marching Band, Towson University Latin Ensemble, DCI, and the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra Jazz Band, under the instruction of percussionist Steve Fidyk. Johanna has also performed at Towson University with artists Kris Davis, Ellery Eskelin, and William Parker.

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She recently was a member of the SOL collective, taking place in Boston, MA. Here, she was commissioned to compose original music to perform at Harvard University and work alongside other dedicated musicians.

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As well as being an active performer in the Baltimore area, Johanna also teaches at various music camps, such as the Hilton Head Jazz Camp in Hilton Head Island, SC. Johanna continues to work on her projects, her latest being the jam session series at Red Emma’s entitled “Spread the Jam”. You can also find her playing bass with the band “Indie Division”, where she plays shows throughout the DMV area.