Tristan De Borba is a classical and contemporary saxophonist and conductor and is quickly gaining a reputation as an innovative and engaging musician.

He is Associate Professor at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia where he teaches saxophone, conducts the Acadia University Symphonic Band and String Orchestra, and teaches musicianship.

Tristan has a strong interest in the music of our time. He is a member of the Alkali Collective, a Halifax-based new music ensemble dedicated to the creation, performance, documentation, and educational outreach of 21st century music. Tristan also performs with the Strum-De Borba duo with fellow saxophonist Nicole Strum. The duo recently released Heavy Stones by composer Robert Humber. This five-movement duo for two baritone saxophone stretches the technical and musical possibilities of the baritone saxophone. Tristan is a founding member of the Brogue Saxophone Quartet which has performed extensively throughout the maritime provinces since 2013. As a soloist, Tristan’s recording of Derek Charke’s Wired and Wound with pianist Simon Docking can be found on the ECMA nominated recording “Live Wired” (Centrediscs, 2015). He also appears as saxophone soloist on “In the Wide Awe of Wisdom” featuring the choral music of Paul Halley (Pelagos, 2017). In 2021, Alongside pianist Mary Castello, Tristan released a video recording of Fernande Decruck’s Sonata and William Grant Still’s Romance. As a conductor and educator, Tristan is increasingly in demand as a clinician and adjudicator of bands and orchestras.

Dr. Tristan De Borba earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Toronto and a Master of Music degree from the University of British Columbia. When taking a break from a busy performing and teaching career, Tristan can be found alongside his wife Sara and their dogs Lua and Sasi exploring beautiful Nova Scotia.