Reynaldo Soza-Sandoval

Hometown

Garden Grove, California

Education

Orange County School of the Arts, Instrumental Music - Jazz Studies, 2021

California Baptist University, Composition, 2021-present

Instrument

Alto Saxophone

Biography

Reynaldo Soza-Sandoval is an undergraduate student at California Baptist University studying composition, who lends his saxophone sound to various stylistically diverse music projects. Studying the alto saxophone from age 9, he has had the privilege of learning from and performing alongside (or for) several distinguished musicians: saxophonist Dan St. Marseille, pianist Mark Massey, Grammy-nominated saxophonist Eric Marienthal, Grammy-awarded pianist Diane Schuur, and more. His more recent musical ventures involve collaborations with friend/music producer Thomas Wyman, and indie band Sweet Honey. Reynaldo is an avid songwriter and instrumental composer whose dream is to land work in the video games industry.

What inspired you to go into music?

I believe that the ability to internalize and learn to play music at a high level is something God-given in my life, from before I was born, to when I listened to my first Alex Campos album, to now. I've learned to make use of ALL of my influences—funk, R&B, hip-hop, jazz, rock, metal, EDM, pop, etc.—in some capacity as I improvise, write, or interpret written music. It's simply been a part of me from the beginning (in my opinion), so it's only natural that I study it seriously and appreciate it in as many facets as possible.

What is an interesting fact about you?

I'm a HUGE fan of skateboarding, snowboarding, and inline-skating as sports. The blending of style with individual creative freedom reminds me of improvisation in music, which might be why I resonate with it so much.

What activities do you enjoy in your spare time?

I like to learn new artistic skills; I appreciate creativity as a whole! I'm improving my creative writing, learning how to draw, voice act, do impressions, etc. I read whenever I'm not playing music, studying for school, or playing video games.

What are you most excited for about this 2024-2025 season?

I look forward to collaborating with musicians whose backgrounds and influences are different from mine, and working on a project that's bigger than myself or any other individual.

Favorite Musical Quote:

"You don't decide you're hip... it just happens that way."

Cannonball Adderley