Kaitlyn Hughes | features editor

It was just another birthday for Duquesne alumnus Darryl Yokley when he received the news he won a Grammy Award.

He came home from eating Brazilian food with his family when the drummer in the pit orchestra of Alicia Keys’ musical “Hell’s Kitchen” informed the group the show won the award for best musical theater album.

Yokley was immediately filled with joy, exclaiming alongside his daughter.

“It’s definitely life changing,” Yokley said. “When you’ve been doing [music] for that long, you want to see the accolades that go along with it.”

Yokley has played the saxophone — and sometimes the clarinet and flute — in the pit orchestra for the musical since its opening in April 2024.

It was the last day of tour with his band, Sound Reformation, when he got an email from a music contractor in March 2024. At first he thought it was a scam, but after further research he realized the offer was real.

Despite his music career being years in the making, Yokley got to rehearsal not knowing anyone on Broadway. Between recording the cast album to performing eight shows every week since opening night, he has been busy ever since he started. Yokley deemed his time spent on Broadway thus far as a “great experience,” not only getting to play the instrument he loves, but having a great rapport with the cast, dancers and his fellow musicians.

“There’s a lot of great artistry that’s floating around in the building,” Yokley said.

In the early 2000s, Tim Warfield, a fellow saxophonist, met Yokley while playing jazz at Ortlieb’s Jazzhaus in Philadelphia. Warfield found that although Yokley was quiet and gentle, he was an artistic individual always willing to think outside of the box when it comes to composing. Warfield credited his unique composing skills to Yokley’s ability to incorporate his roots and lived experience into his working.

“If I were to use one word, I would say tenacious,” Warfield said.

Upon hearing the news that Yokley won a Grammy, Warfield knew it was deserved because of his dedication to the craft.

“[People] don’t understand the discipline required,” Warfield said.

Yokley’s accolades have been years in the making, first starting when he was in fifth grade when he played the clarinet. After having to stop playing the clarinet because of a subpar grade, Yokley begged his parents to let him join the band again. This time, as a saxophone player.

Much like the group of current students at Duquesne, Yokley once roamed the halls of the Mary Pappert School of Music until he graduated in 2003. It was in high school when he first saw former Duquesne professor James Houlik play his saxophone when he was drawn to the university.

“I want to do that for the rest of my life,” Yokley said he remembered thinking.

Duquesne was the only school that Yokley auditioned for.

Throughout his time at the university, Yokley took some composition classes with Michael Tomaro, professor of jazz saxophone and program director of jazz studies. These classes were where he began composing and realized he enjoyed that aspect of being a musician. Tomaro remembered Yokley as a dedicated student always excelling inside and outside the classroom.

“It was extremely satisfying for me as his jazz teacher to listen to him working tirelessly at his jazz saxophone studies,” Tomaro said.

Yokley applies these skills today to Sound Reformation. He never thought he would be the leader of a band.

After making the move to Philadelphia in 2007, Yokley started playing gigs and attending jam sessions. One day, he was invited to lead a band in a gig at The Candlelight Lounge, so he gathered a group of musicians to play. The group played covers and pieces composed by Yokley. After realizing the audience liked the music, he stuck with it.

When he moved to New York City in 2010, he formally settled on bandmates: Luques Curtis on bass, Wayne Smith Jr. on drums and Zaccai Curtis on piano.

The band is very close, almost like a family, Luques Curtis said. Yokley is always willing to listen to new ideas and is open to trying new things.

“It allows us to be creative together,” Curtis said.

Beyond the band, Yokley can play clarinet and flute, teaches music to others and guest lectured at multiple universities including the University of Pennsylvania, Spokane Falls Community College, Western Oregon University, his alma mater and Duquesne.

But Yokley is more than just a musician: He’s a father to his 8-year-old daughter and he once played soccer. He is also always there for his friends, Curtis said.

If he ever needed someone to talk to late at night, Yokley is always there.

“Darryl will be the first one there to help you out,” Curtis said.

Balancing personal life and musical work has not come without obstacles. He rarely gets to play his instrument for enjoyment anymore.

“Especially now, on Broadway, I’m working every night,” Yokley said. “That time for me to just actually spend with my instrument and explore things is very limited.”

Despite the challenge, Yokley’s love for music keeps him going.

“I wake up every day, and it’s one of the first thoughts in my head,” Yokley said. “I have music going on in my mind.”