Will Cleary is a saxophonist, composer, and Creative Director based in Connecticut. Known for a lyrical jazz sound that seamlessly integrates blues, bebop, and classical elements, Cleary’s work bridges sacred and secular traditions. His music serves as a vehicle for challenging cultural division, creatively seeking common ground while celebrating the unique idioms of diverse cultures.
Cleary launched his career as a featured artist at international jazz festivals across Detroit, Cleveland, and Rochester, as well as venues throughout the Midwest. Upon relocating to the New Haven area, he co-founded the Theodicy Jazz Collective. Serving as the ensemble’s major creative force and Creative Director, he has led the eight-piece liturgical jazz band on international tours, performing with world-class choirs in prestigious venues such as St. John the Divine and Trinity Church Wall Street.
His visionary approach is exemplified in The Canterbury Jazz Mass. Composed by Cleary and performed at Canterbury Cathedral in England, the Latin Mass pays homage to Duke Ellington while showcasing his unique ability to blend Afro-Caribbean rhythms with choral singing. Cleary’s improvised solo saxophone work weaves through the composition, its blues and bebop harmonies resonating vividly within the historic cathedral walls.
Cleary recently expanded his liturgical portfolio with Love Is the Way – A Freedom Suite, a sweeping nine-movement work written for Theodicy and the Hendricks Chapel Choir at Syracuse University. Supported by a prestigious Jazz Road Creative Residency grant from South Arts—with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Doris Duke Foundation, and the Mellon Foundation—the suite incorporates West African rhythms, spirituals, and spoken word based on Martin Luther King Jr.’s “The World House” to voice the struggle against oppression and the pursuit of freedom. A studio recording of the nationally recognized project is anticipated in the coming year.
Beyond the sanctuary, Cleary served as Music Director and Composer for Rising of the Necessary Diva, an autobiographical one-woman show by Dr. Tiffany Renée Jackson. The dramatic work highlights Jackson’s journey from the inner city to becoming a classically trained opera singer. Cleary’s score anchors the multimedia production, utilizing his exquisite improvisational ability to weave haunting, blues-infused melodies that support and elevate Jackson’s powerful voice.
A dedicated educator and highly credentialed musician, Cleary earned his Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory, studying under saxophone legend Gary Bartz. During his tenure, he toured extensively with the Oberlin Jazz Septet alongside piano extraordinaire Sullivan Fortner. He went on to earn his Master of Music from the Eastman School of Music under the tutelage of Walt Weiskopf, where he played lead alto saxophone for the premier Eastman Jazz Ensemble led by the great Bill Dobbins.
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