About Isaac
Utrecht-based saxophonist Isaac Turner (2001) grew up in the American Deep South, in Atlanta, Georgia, to an Italian mother and an American father. He began playing saxophone in his elementary school band orchestra at age eight and took lessons throughout grade school, making Georgia’s GMEA All-State Symphonic Orchestra at thirteen.
In high school, he continued his saxophone studies and began studying jazz with Atlanta-based saxophonist Will Scruggs. At fifteen, and throughout high school, he spent every Monday evening with Georgia State University’s prestigious Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra (RYJO) and combos (frequently playing at the Atlanta Jazz Festival), organized/conducted by Dr. Gordon Vernick.
Isaac with his father, Brian Turner in 2002.
In Utrecht, he completed his studies with Metropol Orkest lead alto saxophonist Marc Scholten and Dutch saxophonist Toon Roos at Utrechts Conservatorium. Throughout his studies, he participated in the Jong Metropol, gaining experience as a capable section player, sideman, and bandleader. After conservatory, he studied privately with Simon Rigter — honing in on his craft.
He remains an active player, leading his own quintet, where he recently presented a Tribute to Gershwin concert in Amsterdam’s Contra, and regularly requested as a sideman, as well as working as a teacher in the Netherlands.
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