About Sasha Ripley
Born in Houston, Texas, Alexander (Sasha) Ripley is a Russian and American artist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator. Specializing in tenor saxophone and jazz studies, Sasha started playing Saxophone at the age of 13 years old, and at 14 years old was admitted to the prestigious Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Texas.
In 2019 Sasha received the distinguished Level of Achievement in Music High School Diploma from the same institution.
Sasha was accepted to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, with a World Tour scholarship by the distinguished college.
In addition to his Berklee College of Music education, in the Fall of 2021, Sasha was admitted into the Global Jazz Institute Undergraduate Program, directed by Grammy Winner, Jazz Composer, Pianist, and Activist Danilo Perez. In the institute Sasha was fortunate enough to interact with artists such as Joe Lovano, Danilo Perez, Kris Davis, Adam Cruz, Dave Liebman, Nicholas Payton, John Patitucci, Kurt Elling, Camille Thurman, Gary Bartz, Ben Street, Tia Fuller, among others.
He now resides in Los Angeles as he is receiving his Masters degree at the World-renowned Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz.
Sasha has led and been featured in different performances and ensembles such as:
International Jazz Day with the Hancock Institute Sextet featuring Herbie Hancock and Lakecia Benjamin at the Palace of Arts and Culture in Tangier, Morocco (2024)
The Hancock Institute Sextet with Dianne Reeves and Herbie Hancock at the American Center, New Delhi - Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, Malachi Whitson, Miles Lennox, Destiny Diggs, Alden Hellmuth, Yakiv Tsvietinsky (2024)
The Hancock Institute Sextet with Dianne Reeves and Herbie Hancock at the National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai - Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, Malachi Whitson, Miles Lennox, Destiny Diggs, Alden Hellmuth, Yakiv Tsvietinsky (2024)
The Hancock Institute Sextet with Dianne Reeves and Herbie Hancock at The Piano Man, New Delhi - Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, Malachi Whitson, Miles Lennox, Destiny Diggs, Alden Hellmuth, Yakiv Tsvietinsky (2024)
The Hancock Institute Sextet at Sam First Bar, Los Angeles - Ebs Daramola, Miles Lennox, Destiny Diggs, Alden Hellmuth, Yakiv Tsvietinsky (2023)
The Hancock Institute Sextet at the World Stage, Los Angeles - Ebs Daramola, Miles Lennox, Destiny Diggs, Alden Hellmuth, Yakiv Tsvietinsky (2023)
The Sons Of Garzone at the Lilypad, Boston - Featuring George Garzone, Juan Saus, Salim Charvet (2022)
Ángela Varo’s Quartet (Flamenco Quartet) at the Isabella Gardner Museum, - Featuring Ángela Varo, Rafael Heredia, Isaac Romagosa and Sasha Ripley - Boston (2022)
Woodwind Convocation with Walter Smith III, George Garzone, Tony Malaby, Kris Davis, and Frank Tiberi (2021)
Sasha Ripley’s Quartet at Ritual featuring Corey Dozier, Sam Knight, Jalen Baker - Houston (2022)
Sasha Ripley’s Quartet and Trio featuring Corey Dozier, Sam Knight, Jalen Baker at The Ready Room - Houston (2020-2022)
Antonio Hart and National Peer to Peer quintet at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts - Washington D.C. (2019)
Federal Trade Commission with Sean Jones and the Hancock Peer to Peer Program (2019)
BLUE feat Sean Jones and the Hancock Peer to Peer Program - Portland, Maine (2019)
Emancipation Park, Opening act for Robert Glasper - Houston (2019)
Emancipation Park, Opening act for Jason Moran - Houston (2019)
Center: Jones Plaza with Da Camera, opening act for Mike Moreno and Kendrick Scott - Houston (2018)
Discovery Green with Da Camera, opening for Jason Moran and Denardo Coleman, (2017)
Sasha has received the following awards:
Herbie Hancock Institute HS All-Star (2019). National YoungArts Foundation - YoungArts Winner (Jazz/Saxophone) (2019) TMEA All-Region Big Band 1 - Tenor 1 (2017-2019) Sam Houston State - Best Soloist Award (2018) University of Houston - Best Soloist Award (2018) Waltrip High School - Best Soloist Award (2015) Berklee World Tour Scholarship (2019-2023)
Currently, Sasha is developing his facet as an educator with students from more than 10 different countries, and 4 different continents, as well as a Performer by being part of the Herbie Hancock Institute’s Sextet playing internationally and in Los Angeles. He has also been apart of different recording projects such as Juan Saus - Big Band, Ángela Varo’s Dançá del Aire, and Grant Heineman’s Sloth Running Team and other projects as well.