New album "Bloom" is streaming now on all platforms!
GianCarlo Devanii Lay is a Latin-American saxophonist and composer from Dallas, Texas. With story-telling and connectivity at the root of his performance style, GianCarlo has impacted audiences across the U.S. through his work on the concert stage and on social media.
During the years 2020 and 2021, GianCarlo was awarded two Gold Medals at the Fischoff Chamber Music competition, alongside the Aurelian Quartet and the Quantum Quartet. In addition to winning Music Teachers National Association, North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA), and other solo competitions, he was also invited to perform on NPR’s From the Top show, where he was recognized as a recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award. After graduating from Hebron High School in 2022, GianCarlo attended Arizona State University, where he studies with revered saxophone pedagog, Christopher Creviston, and performs with the award-winning LOTUS Quartet. It was during his time with LOTUS that GianCarlo received his 3rd Fischoff Gold Medal and traveled the U.S. to perform at schools and venues, as well as record LOTUS's 2025 album, "Bloom", at Sweetwater Studios in Fort Wayne, IN.
His first composition for saxophone quartet, Rush Hour, was premiered by LOTUS in 2024 at the University of Notre Dame while on the Fischoff Double Gold Tour, but it wasn't until February, 2025 that he made his debut as the composer and musical artist, “Devanii”. The name Devanii has steadily gained international acclaim in the broader concert music community and has been recognized in various facets such as the ASCAP Foundation's Morton Gould Young Composer Award, Music Teachers National Association composition competition, and by thousands of online fans who follow his journey through social media. Much of Devanii’s music draws inspiration from film composers such as Danny Elfman, Hanz Zimmer, and John Williams, as well as contemporary concert music that he has performed as a saxophonist. His recent work, “Transcendence”, was commissioned by the ASU Saxophone Octet and premiered on the evening concert at the 2026 NASA biennial conference.
In addition to having numerous works presented at the NASA conference, he has also had music performed across the U.S. and abroad. Some of these performances include the International Saxophone Festival of Pamela, National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, National Sawdust, Navy Band Symposium, and more. His first published work, “IMPULSE”, for solo saxophone, recently earned him the ASCAP Foundation's Morton Gould Young Composer Award, and is being performed nationwide. This composition is what set the tone for the musical voice that is Devanii and can be traced back to in many of his works. IMPULSE is a piece that fuses Devanii’s interests in classical music, contemporary music, jazz, and other popular styles, using the saxophone as a vehicle to move seamlessly through different genres. Much of Devanii’s work challenges the notion of the word “genre” and is strongly rooted in fusion and contemporary techniques. His larger works for saxophone ensemble, band, and orchestra are more rooted in story-telling and filmscore techniques. The prevailing theme that ties it all together is that his music aspires to challenge and bring joy to those who practice, perform, and listen to it. As a performing artist, Devanii is a firm believer that music is a reflection of the human experience, and he therefore hopes to create meaningful experiences through his music and performances.
Growing up in a Latino household, I was always surrounded by music and dance. Watching my parents perform on stage as a young boy is what sparked my love for the performing arts. As my passion for the arts grew, so did my opportunities, propelling me forward as a soloist, chamber musician, and student leader. My vision is to inspire the next generation of artists by teaching and advocating for the art of music and performance.
During my undergraduate studies at Arizona State University (ASU), I've had the privilege of performing in the award-winning LOTUS Saxophone Quartet, which has opened my eyes to the magnitude of music performance and community outreach. During my time with LOTUS, I’ve visited many middle schools and high schools across the country, performing a range of music including jazz, contemporary, and classical, while also giving lectures about chamber music and being a music major in college. Traveling to these schools as a young professional exposed the students to high-level artistry while also giving them the chance to meet the humans behind the art. By challenging them to consider their own musical journey and providing insight into pursuing music in college, we created an opportunity for them to think critically about their own careers and gave them something meaningful to work towards. Through interactions with the students, I was reminded of how music gave me something to strive for when I was their age and how it has continued to do so as a professional. In that, I found purpose: creating opportunities for young musicians and inspiring them to work hard towards something they love.
The “farming and framing of ideas”, as Professor Daniel Bernard Roumain at ASU describes it, is the seed which allows the garden of music and media to flourish. In recent years, I’ve discovered a newfound passion for writing music, and as a composer, I’ve gotten to experience the world of music through a different lens. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity of being commissioned to write new music for tours, recording projects, dissertations, and conferences. Some of these conferences include the North American Saxophone Alliance, Navy Band Symposium, International Sax Festival of Pamela, and others. Being a contributor to the growing repertoire for chamber music and changing lives through performance and mentorship has made me eager to continue my work as a composer and a performing artist.
“GianCarlo Devanii Lay has earned an international reputation as one of the most charismatic saxophonists of his generation.” - Lynne MacDonald
— ASU News
(CDT, UTC-05) (CDT, UTC-05)
We are thrilled to announce our upcoming recital featuring music by Chopin, Rachmoninov, Devanii, Beach, and more! Come join Yumiko Hastings and GianCarlo Lay for an afternoon of music, story-telling, and vibes.
