​NATHAN MERTENS
Saxophonist・Teaching Artist

I’m Nathan Mertens (he/him), a saxophonist, educator, and curator of possibility at the University of Colorado Boulder. I’m passionate about mentoring the next generation of musicians to become thoughtful, community-connected artists. Connecting with audiences through music that reflects the world we live in is at the heart of everything I do. My debut album, Notes of Connection: Saxophone Chamber Music by Nobuhito Sato, will be released on Navona Records in Fall 2026, and I’m currently leading the NEA-funded recording project American Saxophone Concertos: New Voices and Visions, featuring new concertos by Anthony Green, Jennifer Bellor, Gracie Fagan, and Joan Tower. As a queer artist and Japanese saxophone scholar, I’m especially committed to amplifying Japanese and LGBTQIA2S+ voices. Oh, and if you’re curious, I play Yamaha saxophones, D’Addario reeds, and Rousseau mouthpieces. They help me sound like me.