Description

American saxophonist Nathan Mertens (he/him) currently serves as the Teaching Assistant Professor of Saxophone at the University of Arkansas and in the Fall of 2023 will begin as the Assistant Professor of Saxophone at the University of Colorado Boulder. As an active soloist and chamber musician, he has performed recitals in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Croatia, Bolivia, the United Kingdom, and throughout the United States. He has performed as a soloist with orchestras including the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra, Hastings Symphony Orchestra, The University of Texas Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Arkansas Saxophone Ensemble. Mertens’ orchestral experience includes performances with the San Antonio Symphony and the Omaha Symphony. In competition, he was awarded Third Prize in the 14th Kurashiki International Saxophone Competition, Second Grand Prize in the North International Music Competition in Sweden, and has been a finalist for many national competitions.

Previously, Mertens lived in Tokyo, Japan as a Monbukagakusho Research Scholarship recipient with the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology. As such, Mertens was the first American Saxophonist to formally study in Japan. Realizing that awareness and access to Japanese music were lacking in the West, Mertens created the Japanese Saxophone Database, a resource to connect the rest of the world with all things saxophone in Japan. While in Tokyo, he performed with the Kunitachi Saxophone Ensemble, the Japan Saxophone Orchestra, Marie Kikuchi, and Emi Kondo.

Mertens studied at The University of Texas at Austin - Butler School of Music, Hastings College, and Kunitachi College of Music, with Stephen Page, Debra Rhodes, and Masato Kumoi, respectively. Mertens is a D'Addario Woodwind Artist, a Yamaha Performing Artist, and a Rousseau Artist Endorser, and performs exclusively on these products.

Takeaways

1. Advice for young professionals by knowing what they want to do.
2. People who want to focus on the results is to think of success
3. Instead of saying “people are not capable of doing'', rather say “the work ethic you’re exhibiting now does not match the goals that you have told me that you want.”
4. Mission statement is flexible.
5. Understand who you are and what you can bring. Think about what makes you special.
6. Use as many resources as possible to be prepared for the world you currently live in.
7. Try to be professional but also be real and transparent of your own growth and journey.

Resources: http://www.nathanmertens.com

Social Media Links

Website: http://www.nathanmertens.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanmertens

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nathanmertens

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Kristine Dizon

The Modern Artist Project