About Stefan
Stefan Loest is an active jazz saxophonist and music educator known for his creativity and versatility. Hailing from Wheaton, Illinois, Stefan is pursuing the Bachelor of Music Education degree with an instrumental focus from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is currently completing his student teaching at St. Charles North High School and Thompson Middle School under the guidance of Chicagoland educators John Wojciechowski, John Blank, Kevin Dobbeck, Daniel Quinn, and Glenn Williams.
While at the University of Illinois, Stefan had the opportunity to perform alongside jazz masters such as Christian McBride, Carl Allen, Ignacio Berroa, Troy Roberts, Steve Wilson, Ron Blake, Tito Carrillo, and Chip McNeill. He has also performed at the Midwest Clinic, the Jazz Education Network Conference, the Illinois Music Education Conference, the Reliaquest Bowl, the Citrus Bowl, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland, as well as Chicagoland venues such as the Jazz Showcase, Fulton Street Collective, and FitzGerald’s. Additionally, he presented his artistry as a saxophonist and composer through multiple undergraduate recitals and various projects. His recitals have included a premier of his own compositions, an album recreation project of Troy Roberts’ Nu Jive: Nations United, and a showcase of Duke Ellington’s music by a self-assembled big band consisting of fellow students at the University of Illinois. Stefan has had multiple arrangements performed in concert by the UIUC Concert Jazz Band, in which he held the first tenor saxophone chair for three semesters. He has also been a member of the Repertory Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Jim Pugh, the Wind Orchestra, the Hindsley Symphonic Band, and the Marching Illini, of which he was an Alto Saxophone Section Leader for two seasons. Stefan’s academic accomplishments include an impressive 3.98 GPA, and being named to the College of Fine and Applied Arts Dean’s List every semester. He is the recipient of the University of Illinois Bands 2025 Gary E. Smith Excellence in Leadership Award. Stefan has studied under the tutelage of Prof. Chip McNeill, Prof. Debra Richtmeyer, Prof. Ron Bridgewater, Dr. Jonathan Dufresne, and Chicago saxophonists Joel Moore and Rich Moore.
In addition to his experience co-teaching the concert bands and jazz ensembles at St. Charles North and Thompson, Stefan has taught at the Illinois Summer Youth Music jazz session as Assistant Instructor of Jazz Saxophone, in which he directed Junior Jazz Band II, co-led saxophone masterclasses, and coordinated jam sessions. Apart from music, Stefan enjoys spending time outdoors, running, biking, and watching college football and basketball.
