Dr. Salinas has been fortunate to perform and teach music on opposite sides of the world. He is currently on faculty at Oklahoma State University's Michael and Anne Greenwood School of Music in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he teaches applied saxophone and assists with the university's recording department. Prior to working at OSU, Dr. Salinas served as the Assistant Professor of Saxophone at Soochow University School of Music located in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. While in China, Dr. Salinas performed many solo and chamber music recitals and had the opportunity to play with the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. As a native of Houston, Texas, he has performed with the Houston Symphony Orchestra, Houston Ballet, and Musiqa, an award-winning American contemporary music ensemble. He has performed as a soloist live on National Public Radio's "The Front Row" and at notable venues such as the Shanghai Symphony Hall, Jinan Grand Theatre, the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theatre in Washington, DC, and the Lila Cockrell Theatre in San Antonio, Texas. He has given many performances throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.

 

Dr. Salinas is a founding member of the award-winning Amethyst Quartet. In 2008, Amethyst was the first saxophone quartet in history to sweep the United States' most prestigious chamber music competitions, winning first prizes at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition, and the Music Teachers National Association Chamber Music Competition (MTNA). Other individual awards include the international Frank Huntington Beebe Fund (2006), Hellam Young Artist Competition (2005), and Andreas Makris Woodwind Competition (2004).

 

In addition to teaching in China, Dr. Salinas has taught at Sam Houston State University, Houston Baptist University, Lone Star College - North Harris, San Jacinto College and Morehead State University. He has taught courses in applied saxophone, chamber music, music appreciation, woodwind methods, and music technology.

 

As a teacher, his students have been accepted into prestigious music programs around the United States while his former students have won prizes at major competitions including the 44th Annual Fischoff Chamber Music Competition (Gold Medal), 8th Plowman Chamber Music Competition (1st prize), 2017 National MTNA Chamber Music Competition (2nd prize), Macauley Chamber Music Competition, and the Houston Underground Chamber Music Competition. His high school students have gone on to make the All-State Bands in both Illinois and Texas.

 

Dr. Salinas earned his Doctor of Musical Arts, Master of Music, and Bachelor of Music degrees from Northwestern University under the instruction of Dr. Frederick L. Hemke.