Marina Sakellakis

Marina Sakellakis (she/her) is a multi-faceted performer, educator, and advocate for the arts in Austin, Texas. Originally from New Jersey, she maintains an active performing and teaching career. She regularly plays with the University of Texas Wind Ensemble, Austin Saxophone Ensemble, and her saxophone quartet. As a multi-instrumentalist, she has performed in pit orchestras for musical theater companies such as Zilker Theatre Productions, University of Michigan Musical Theatre Department, and the Heller Awards for Young Artists. Marina has been invited to perform in numerous national and international festivals including the North American Saxophone Alliance conferences, the Texas Music Educators Association Conference, the International Saxophone Symposium, the Trinity CoLab Immersion in London, and the Arosa Music Festival in Switzerland.

She maintains an active private studio, and  works with the Austin Independent School District as a private lesson teacher and with Austin Soundwaves, teaching saxophone, clarinet, oboe, and flute. Marina has given masterclasses at Texas A&M International University and many middle and high schools in the Austin Area.

Committed to creating equity and accessibility in the arts, Marina has worked for numerous nonprofits such as the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Austin Soundwaves, and Austin Classical Guitar. With Austin Classical Guitar, Marina worked in Music & Healing, an initiative that provides uplifting musical experiences to people with significant trauma. She worked with the Lullaby Project, a songwriting initiative for new and expecting mothers. Marina also founded the Music Memories project which connected nursing homes with high school musicians for digital performances during the pandemic.

Sakellakis won 2nd prize in the NOLA Chamber fest, and was semi-finalist in the Young Texas Artists Music Competition, semi-finalist in the NASA Quartet Competition, and first prize in New York International Artists Competition where she played in the winner’s concert at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall.