About

Royce Files (Los Angeles, CA) is a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) candidate saxophonist studying under Dr. Jessica Maxfield, primary saxophone instructor at the Thornton School of Music. Mr. Files obtained his Bachelor of Music (BM) degree in Saxophone Performance from the University of Dayton in 2012. He was awarded his Master of Music (MM) degree and Artist Diploma (AD) at The University of Cincinnati - College Conservatory of Music (CCM) in 2014 and 2016. Royce Files was the recipient of a 4-year renewable Presidential Scholarship and music scholarship at the University of Dayton. Additionally, Mr. Files was a recipient of a Jazz Graduate Assistantship and a Graduate Scholarship at the CCM. He has also studied with James Bunte, Nathan Nabb, Willie Morris III, Paul Cohen, Jim Flowers, Dwight Houston and Angel Negrin.  He is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Musical Arts program at the University of Southern California where in addition to performance he is studying music production and arts administration in preparation for a career in music. 

Mr. Files has performed in a multitude of music ensembles, including the Thornton Wind Ensemble, CCM Wind Orchestra, CCM Jazz Lab Band, and the University of Dayton First Flight Saxophone Quartet. In 2017, Mr. Files performed with Solange Knowles and StarChild on several tour dates, including FYF Fest, The Hollywood Bowl, and Camp Flog Gnaw. 

In 2012, Mr. Files’ University of Dayton-based First Flight Saxophone Quartet was invited to perform at the International Society for Music Education World Conference in Thessaloniki, Greece.

In addition to his collegiate activities, Mr. Files has served as the Vacation Bible School Music Director for his Church, has taught music at Birmingham City Schools and Homewood City School band camps, and has been a guest performer at many civic organizations and area churches.  He is currently working with the Thornton Community Engagement Program (TCEP); an outreach program aimed at mentoring students in disadvantaged schools without music programs. He has also worked with the CCM Whiz Kids organization and the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Central Alabama/Scrollworks as a saxophone instructor. When he was younger, he toured Paris, France and Genoa and Rome, Italy as a member of the Magic City Boys Choir. His passion for music was kindled by his Grandfather, the late Curtis Files Jr., who was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame as a Legendary Blues Artist. Mr. Files is originally from Birmingham, Alabama where he attended Homewood High School.