Langston Hughes II

Langston Hughes II, at 23 years old, distinguishes himself as an accomplished saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, and educator, positioning him as one of the most promising young talents in music today.

Currently immersed in the pursuit of a master's degree in Jazz Studies at The Juilliard School in the vibrant landscape of New York City, Langston's musical journey began in his hometown near Washington D.C. He first started playing saxophone in the Prince George County public school system but later refined his craft at Howard University under the mentorship of the renowned saxophonist and educator Charlie Young III and pianist Cyrus Chestnut, all while being shaped by the diverse cultural influences of Washington D.C.

In 2023, Langston was granted admission to The Juilliard School, one of the nation’s leading music conservatories. There, he garnered the attention of musical luminaries such as Rufus Reid, Wynton Marsalis, Ulysses Owens, and others. In his inaugural year at Juilliard, Langston embarked on tours with Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz at Lincoln Orchestra, shared stages with Rufus Reid, Jazzmeia Horn, Orrin Evans, Nat Adderley Jr., and joined Ulysses Owens Jr. and his Generation Y band in Tokyo, Japan, for a run at famed The Cotton Club.

Beyond performing alongside established musicians, Langston has led his own quartet at prestigious venues and festivals, including Blues Alley, Keystone Korner, The Kennedy Center, the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, and the DC Jazz Festival, leaving audiences captivated and yearning for more.

Langston was also a Strathmore Artist in Residence throughout the 2021-2022 performance season in Bethesda, Maryland. In 2022, he was selected as a participant in the esteemed Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Residency at the John F. Kennedy Center, a performance and composition project discovering and presenting the next generation of jazz greats. 

Beyond performing, Langston is committed to music education, having taught dozens of young students of his own and with the non-profit organization FAME (Foundation for the Advancement of Music and Education). He has also conducted and performed masterclasses at the Levine School of Music, Strathmore Music Center, and various middle and high schools in the Washington Metropolitan Region. Drawing from the wisdom imparted by his mentors, Langston believes in the significance of mentorship, striving to pass on the invaluable knowledge, experiences, and stories of elders and the great musicians of the past, ensuring the eternal resonance of the art form.

Tags