Tyler Rix

Tyler Rix (b Watford, 2 January 1993) is a British classical saxophonist who appeared on the BBC's Classical Star competition aged 14. Rix plays the alto and soprano saxophones. Rix signed with Universal Music Group and his debut album, Ascent, was released in February 2009 reaching number one in the Classical Charts. Rix began playing the saxophone at the age of 9 in primary school lessons. He attended Frith Manor Primary School in Woodside Park, North West London, and Dame Alice Owen's School, in Potters Bar. He was accepted to the Junior Department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in Barbican London in 2003 to study classical and jazz saxophone on Saturdays. In July 2008 Rix won Junior Guildhall's Lutine Prize. In 2007, 2008 and 2009 Rix was awarded the sax.co.uk Scholarship by Junior Guildhall. The Tyler Rix quartet performed at the Vortex in the London Jazz Festival 22 November 2008. Since 2007 Rix has made solo appearances at The Barbican, St Martins-in-the Fields with the Brandenburg Sinfonia, St John's Smith Square with the Junior Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, Wales Millennium Centre, The Arts Depot Finchley with St Michael's School, The Mermaid Theatre for BBC Radio 2's Friday Night Is Music Night with the BBC Concert Orchestra; he has appeared on Blue Peter, London Tonight, BBC News, Classic FM, Radio 5 Live, and regional radio stations. He has played for Music First, The Bobby Moore Fund and Camden Calling charity events. In January 2001, at the age of 8, Rix signed for West Ham United Academy. The following year, he appeared on the front cover of the book, Junior Soccer: A Complete Coaching Guide for the Young Player, a coaching guide produced in association with West Ham. In April 2007 Rix played for Dame Alice Owen’s School with whom he won the English Schools' FA National Cup. In 2009 Rix signed to Universal Classics and Jazz and his recording, Ascent, was released in January 2009 containing a collection of old and new classical pieces. Released initially as an EP it was released as a full length recording in February 2009. He was the final torchbearer on the day before the London 2012 Olympic Games, lighting the cauldron on stage in Hyde Park at the Olympic Torch Relay Finale Celebration on 27 July 2012 in front of a crowd of 80,000 people.