Artist
Internationally respected jazz saxophonist and composer Jeff Antoniuk (pronounced an-TOE-nee-ak) has received numerous awards and commissions, appeared on many albums and toured extensively. Currently based in the Washington, DC area, he is a solid contributor to many activities in the nation’s most cherished cultural institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, the Kennedy Center and Washington Performing Arts Society. He draws many jazz artists to the region to perform and teach at his side.
In the U.S., Antoniuk has performed and recorded with diverse hit makers such as Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Bobby McFerrin, Freddie Hubbard, Marcus Miller and Najee. He has collaborated with fellow saxophonist Jeff Coffin, guitarists Steve Herberman and Steve Rochiniski, percussionists Sherrie Maricle and Joe McCarthy, bassist Gary Grainger and young Latin Jazz pianist Zaccai Curtis.
He's worked with Canadian greats such as PJ Perry, Senator Tommy Banks, big band leader Rob McConnell, the iconic David Foster and trumpet sensation Ingrid Jensen.
His concerts and recordings with the Unified Jazz Ensemble, the Jazz Update and other ensembles have been consistently well received by critics.
Jeff Antoniuk was born in Edmonton, Canada in 1965, to a large Ukrainian family. They lived in Benin City, Nigeria for a time and the colorful sights and sounds of that experience have never left him. He began his musical education there, studying classical piano. Back in Canada in his teens, he took up the saxophone relishing any opportunity to play.
After attending Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, Canada Antoniuk swept into the United States like an Alberta Clipper. From the University of North Texas, he earned a master’s degree in jazz performance and West African ethnomusicology. He began making his mark as an artist and educator early in his career: touring, teaching and composing before he even graduated.
He then co-founded the Unified Jazz Ensemble, enjoying numerous accomplishments with that group in his 12-year tenure. The quintet toured North America and Asia and were adjunct faculty at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa for two years.
A grant from the Canada Council and studies with Tim Hagans helped Antoniuk mature as a performer and composer before he became a bandleader - the next step in his career. In 2004 he formed the Jazz Update quartet, featuring some of the most in-demand jazz artists on the East Coast of the United States.
