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Langston Hughes II is an accomplished saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, and educator, rapidly emerging as one of the most promising young voices in jazz and beyond.
A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Langston began playing saxophone in the Prince George’s County public school system and later refined his craft at Howard University under the mentorship of saxophonist Charlie Young III and pianist Cyrus Chestnut. He recently earned his master’s degree in Jazz Studies from The Juilliard School—one of the world’s premier arts conservatories—where his artistry and professionalism quickly drew the attention of leading figures in the field.
Langston has toured with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, performed with Rufus Reid, Jazzmeia Horn, and Orrin Evans, and joined Ulysses Owens Jr.’s Generation Y band for a residency in Tokyo, Japan. As a bandleader, he has headlined major venues and festivals including Blues Alley, Keystone Korner, The Kennedy Center, the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, and the DC Jazz Festival.
In addition to his work on the bandstand, Langston is quickly becoming an in-demand woodwind chair on and off Broadway, recognized for his versatility, sight-reading skills, and multi-instrumental fluency. His recent credits include A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical, Just in Time: The Bobby Darin Story, and other Off-Broadway productions.
A former Strathmore Artist in Residence, Langston was also selected for the Kennedy Center’s prestigious Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead residency, where he studied with Jason Moran, Marcus Printup, Peter Martin, Clarence Penn, Chris Thomas, and Camille Thurman.
As an educator, Langston has taught more than 50 students through FAME (Foundation for the Advancement of Music and Education) and led clinics and masterclasses at the Levine School of Music, Strathmore, and public schools across Prince George’s County. He also maintains a private lesson studio, where he works one-on-one with a select group of dedicated young musicians. Drawing from the wisdom of his mentors, Langston is committed to passing on the values, traditions, and stories that keep this music alive and evolving for future generations.
SHORT BIO -download-
Langston Hughes II is an accomplished saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, and educator, rapidly emerging as one of the most promising young voices in jazz and beyond.
Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, Langston began playing saxophone in the Prince George’s County public school system and honed his craft at Howard University under the mentorship of Charlie Young III and Cyrus Chestnut. He recently earned his master’s degree in Jazz Studies from The Juilliard School, where his professionalism and artistry quickly caught the attention of leading artists and educators.
Langston has toured with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, performed with Jazzmeia Horn, Rufus Reid, Orrin Evans, and joined Ulysses Owens Jr.’s Generation Y band for a residency in Tokyo, Japan. As a bandleader, he has headlined at Blues Alley, Keystone Korner, The Kennedy Center, and the DC Jazz Festival.
In addition to his work as a performer, Langston is becoming an in-demand woodwind chair on and off Broadway. His recent credits include A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical, Just in Time: The Bobby Darin Story, and other Off-Broadway productions.
He is a former Strathmore Artist in Residence and a graduate of the Kennedy Center’s Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program. A dedicated educator, Langston teaches privately and through FAME, striving to uplift and inspire the next generation of musicians.