Recently named a consecutive “Rising Star Baritone Saxophonist” in the 2025 and 2026 Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll, NO FEAR Executive Director, Tim” Sully” Sullivan, has been a top call stage and studio performer for over 25 years in New Orleans, Chicago, and New York City.

With a soulful and singular sound on saxophones, clarinets, flutes, whistles, and voice, he has performed, recorded, and toured throughout the U.S. and overseas with artists ranging from Soul Queen Aretha Franklin to Funk Legend Fred Wesley to over a dozen NEA Jazz Masters to name a few.

For as long as he’s been performing, education has been an equal source of meaning and purpose in Tim’ s life. From 2009-2022, he taught extensively at Jazz at Lincoln Center, where he also had the honor of performing at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, the Appel Room, and Rose Hall; recording on Jazz at Lincoln Center Records; filming for the online Jazz Academy; and more.

In 2012, he was awarded a doctoral fellowship to attend Teachers College, Columbia University for Music and Music Education. While at TC, he researched popular music learning, teaching artistry, and curriculum design, in addition to teaching at Teachers College Community School in Harlem. At TCCS, he developed a curriculum dedicated to the music and sociocultural history of the Apollo Theater. He was hired by the Apollo the following year, where he served as a lead music teaching artist, curriculum writer, program developer, and school tour guide for nearly a decade.

A former resident of New Orleans and a proud graduate of the UNO Jazz Studies program, Tim returned to the Big Easy in 2022 with a renewed appreciation for the city and its’ capacity to emanate Experiential Arts and Learning throughout the world. He is thrilled to be making “art for heart’s sake” and serving his community in meaningful and purposeful ways.