Have Sax Will Travel: AHS grad takes jazz to academic heights

Four-and-a-half years ago, Ian Henderson embarked on a journey to earn his Doctorate in Musical Arts in Jazz Saxophone Performance from the University of Miami.

Henderson and his wife, Maria Andrea, decided to move to The Magic City in 2021 because it offered them find what they were looking for in life.

“We loved living in Miami because my wife is Colombian and there is so much vibrant Latino culture there,” Henderson said. “While I completed my degree, I was a full-time working professional musician as well, so it was quite a busy time.”

The Aledo High School graduate said it was also an eye-opening experience for him both academically and culturally.

“Living in Miami was a nice change for me because I had never lived anywhere in the U.S. outside of Texas before,” Henderson said. “I did my dissertation on a school of saxophone playing called the ‘Texas Tenor’ style, most prominently found in R&B and Rock n’ Roll. My research gave me a newfound appreciation for Texas music because I discovered how much Texan musicians have contributed to the evolution of several different genres.”

Henderson still has deep affection for his hometown, and credits his experiences growing up in Aledo with making him the musician he is today.

“I wouldn’t have pursued music for a living had it not been for Jake Albin at Aledo High School,” Henderson said. “He is the one who taught me how to play saxophone in sixth grade, and he ran the Aledo High School Jazz Band, which I was a member of for all four years of high school. He also encouraged me to start studying jazz saxophone (classical saxophone is what’s primarily taught in Texas public schools) when I was 16.

“The Texas music education system is top-tier, and Aledo is one of the best music programs in the state. The emphasis my teachers placed on fundamentals and sight-reading definitely prepared me for the cutthroat environment of being a professional musician.”

Henderson was born and raised in Fort Worth and moved to Aledo when he was in fifth grade.

He started learning the saxophone at McAnally Intermediate School in sixth grade, and participated in band throughout middle school and high school.

At Aledo High School, he was a member of the Bearcat Regiment, the AHS Jazz Band, and the AHS Wind Ensemble.

Upon graduating high school in 2011, Henderson began pursuing a B.A. in Jazz Saxophone Performance at the University of North Texas.

He moved to Costa Rica following graduation in 2016, where he lived for three years and learned to speak Spanish.

The Aledo alumnus moved back to Texas in 2019 to begin working toward a Master's degree in Jazz Saxophone Performance from the University of Texas at Austin, graduating in 2021.

Henderson said completing his Ph.D. was rewarding, but also quite challenging.

“Being in graduate school is a bit like having a full-time job that you don’t get paid for,” Henderson said. “So I’m happy to be finished with it. The most rewarding part was gaining a newfound appreciation for Texas music, even though I had to leave Texas to do so.”

Henderson also had some advice for young people looking to pursue a music career.

“Start on piano because it’s such an important instrument for developing basic musical skills,” Henderson said. “You can also see the full spectrum of notes right in front of you, which you can’t do with a saxophone. It’s such an important tool you can use for learning new music and composing. I really can’t emphasize enough how important learning piano is. I also recommend learning as much as you can about music theory as possible.”

The Aledo High School graduate currently works at a prep school called The Benjamin School in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where he serves as the Music Director.

Henderson is primarily a tenor saxophone player, but I can also play alto, soprano, baritone, clarinet, flute, piano, and bass, and said music is and will remain his greatest passion.

“I plan on working in music education for the rest of my life, as well as doing freelance performance gigs,” Henderson said. “I’m currently taking a hiatus from performing because my wife and I welcomed our first child, Callum, into the world back in June. I plan to begin performing again in 2026.”