Composer, saxophonist, conductor, and music educator Russ Grazier, Jr. is a native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He has taught saxophone, composition, and music theory for over 30 years. In 2002, together with Wendell Purrington and Katie Grazier, he co‐founded the Portsmouth Music and Arts Center (PMAC), a nonprofit community music and visual arts school.

Russ is the founder of the New Horizons Band of Portsmouth, NH, which he has led as musical director for 21 years. He has developed an extensive adult music education program at PMAC, where nearly twenty music ensembles for adult amateurs rehearse weekly under the direction of a variety of professional teaching artists. He is an expert in the field of Creative Aging, gave a TED talk in 2022 titled “How Music Can Combat Isolation and Loneliness for Older Adults,” and is currently writing a book on the topic.

Russ has taught at some of the most prestigious music schools in the country including Boston Conservatory, Roosevelt University (Chicago), the University of Chicago College, the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, and the Merit School of Music (Chicago).

Russ lives in Portsmouth with his wife, Katie, and their cats Lily and Lincoln. Their two sons, Max and Jake, are active musicians in Chicago and New Hampshire, respectively.