Episode 2 of the Making Noise Podcast features my friend, saxophonist Jonathan Kierspe.
Jonathan Kierspe’s focus on high-quality performance has led him to perform in Croatia, Italy, France, China, and across the United States. He has had the opportunity to present performances at prestigious events such as multiple North American Saxophone Alliance Biannual and Regional conferences, the Navy Band Saxophone Symposium, the European Saxophone University in Gap (France), the World Saxophone Congress, and the Bowling Green State University New Music Festival.
Jonathan has also placed in competitions such as the BGSU graduate concerto competition, the Wayland Chamber Music competition, Ohio’s MTNA chamber music competition, the South Carolina MTNA solo woodwind competition, and the WDAV Youth Chamber Group competition. He has also been a featured soloist in Michael Colgrass’ Urban Requium, with the University of South Carolina Wind Ensemble.
Chamber music has always been a large focus in Jonathan’s career. His bass trombone and saxophone duo “Wind Collision” has given performances at both regional and national conferences. In 2018, the duo commission five works and brought them on tour to the University of South Carolina, Winthrop University, Limestone College, the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, Ohio State University, Oakland College, and Franklin College. Most recently, Jonathan has joined the Green Vibes Collective, a chamber group focused on performing music that brings awareness to our environment! www.greenvibesproject.org
Jonathan is currently pursuing a Doctor of Music from Florida State University, where he serves as the teaching assistant for Dr. Geoffrey Deibel. Previously, he received his Master’s in Music from Bowling Green State University, where he served as the woodwind methods teaching assistant under Dr. John Sampen. He earned his Bachelor of Music from the University of South Carolina, having studied under Dr. Clifford Leaman.
Jonathan and I met during our time in graduate school at Bowling Green State University. He was a member of the Segetem Saxophone quartet, who performed my piece Haumea. Later, Jonathan commissioned me to write I am… for his saxophone and trombone duo, Wind Collision.
Some of the things we discuss in this podcast:
Reminding yourself to be active and go outside during COVID-19.
How COVID-19 has altered the college experience as a doctoral student.
Issues most saxophone students experience.
Balancing different schools of thought for practice.
How we met.
The challenges of putting together Haumea.
Building your CV to be more marketable.
“If all you’re doing is going to school and coasting, I don’t think that is a good idea.”
The schedule of a doctoral student pursuing saxophone performance.
Sax Reel Podcast.