Michael Stephenson, soprano saxophonist for New Century Saxophone Quartet, received his Bachelor of Music degree from the North Carolina School of the Arts where he was a student of James Houlik. He received his Master of Music degree from Ithaca College where he was a student of Steven Mauk. From 1988-92, Michael was a Visiting Artist at Randolph and Pitt Community Colleges. As a Visiting Artist, Michael performed over 400 concerts across North Carolina, as well as at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. As an orchestral saxophonist he has appeared with the North Carolina, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and Western Piedmont Symphonies.

     Michael and his wife Cheryl founded the Music Academy of Eastern Carolina (MAEC) in 1997 in their hometown of Greenville, North Carolina. MAEC is a nonprofit community music school offering music instruction on band and orchestral instruments including piano, voice, and guitar. In addition to his duties there, Michael teaches applied woodwinds at North Carolina A&T State University.