
Listen Further
Exploring the relationship of saxophone technique, art, musical progression, and the relationship between the performer, music, and audience. Saxophonist Nathan Mandel is dedicated to presenting programs that explore listening further, with programs that include blending contemporary music with pop culture, new tonal realities with traditional overtones, multi-disciplinary performance with dance, art, poetry, and music, and exploring true computer and live audio design duo music.
Nathan holds the Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Illinois, and degrees from Bowling Green State University (2005) and the University of North Texas (2003). His principle teachers include Debra Richtmeyer, John Sampen, and Eric Nestler.
Exploring the relationship of saxophone technique, art, musical progression, and the relationship between the performer, music, and audience. Saxophonist Nathan Mandel is dedicated to presenting programs that explore listening further, with programs that include blending contemporary music with pop culture, new tonal realities with traditional overtones, multi-disciplinary performance with dance, art, poetry, and music, and exploring true computer and live audio design duo music.
Nathan holds the Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Illinois, and degrees from Bowling Green State University (2005) and the University of North Texas (2003). His principle teachers include Debra Richtmeyer, John Sampen, and Eric Nestler.
Premieres and Commissions
Abbott, MO, Asleep to Believe It (2019), world premiere: Urbana, IL, January 2020
Blume, Philipp,The Shadows Shadows Throw (2013), world premiere: Suono Mobile USA 2013
Blume, Philipp, Stuelp (2009/10), commission, world premiere: Lebanon, IL, April 2010
Blume, Philipp, To Watch Over Me (2013), dedication/world premiere, Champaign, IL, Nov. 2013, rev. 2015 for SaxOpen 2015 in Strasbourg, France, July 2015
Carlos, Carillo-Cotto, Ruhest du Auch (2015) for alto saxophone and electric viola, dedication, world premiere: Lubbock, TX, March 2016
Fieldsteel, Eli, Depth of Field (2018) for tenor saxophone and photocell sensors, dedication, world premiere, Urbana, IL Nov 2018
Fieldsteel, Eli, Nose Dive (2017) for saxophonist and electronics, dedication, world premiere: Urbana, IL, November 2017.
Finnissy, Michael, Halbnackt!, American premiere, Urbana, IL, February 2010.
Harold, Sean, There is no image, there is no poetry...(2014/15) for soprano saxophone and pre-recorded media. World premiere, Strasbourg, France, July 2015
Herriott, Jeff, As brightness is smeared into memory (2018), consortium commission, Mandel premiere: Urbana, IL, Nov. 2018
Ho, Pinda, Rise for solo alto saxophone, world premiere, April 2014
Knoll, J. Corey, Winding Way (2005), dedication, world premiere: Florence, Italy, June 2005
Lin, Pin Hsin, Rolling Motion Machine (2010), world premiere, Urbana, IL, 2012
Livengood, Kerrith, Show (2014), dedication, world premiere, Urbana, IL, Fall 2016
Mack, Deiter, Selisih for alto and baritone saxophones (2003), American premiere: Urbana,IL,
February 2007
Majcen, Igor, Noble Savage (2001), American premiere: Urbana, IL, November 2007
Manlove, Keith, Becoming Machine 1 for alto saxophone, Max/MSP, Jitter (2008), commission,
world premiere: Columbia, SC, April 2008
Morse, Barry, Ashes and Iron (2013/14), world premiere: North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference, Urbana, IL, March 2014
Morse, Barry, In the Spaces Where They Dwell (2013), world premiere, November 2013
Nichols III, John, Fall Silent for tenor saxophone and electroacoustics (2016), world premiere: Brooklyn, NY, July 2016
Rice, Stephen, Murmurs from Limbo (2004), world premiere: Bowling Green, OH, April 2005
Rice, Stephen, On the Floodis Babylonis (2005), commission, world premiere: Urbana, IL, April
2006
Rundall, Jake, Two Realities for alto saxophone and Max/MSP (2006/07), dedication, world
premiere: Bloomington, IN, February 2007
Shrude, Marilyn, Drifting Over a Red Place (1980/81), revised for soprano saxophone 2010 by
Nathan Mandel, version premiere: Lebanon, IL, April 2010
Shrude, Marilyn, Fantasmi (2005), world premiere: Trani, Italy, June 2005
Smith, Benjamin Day, For 10 Players (2006), world premiere: Bloomington, IN, February 2007
Smith, Benjamin Day, [Musi]verse (2007) for interactive computers, American and e-premiere:
Urbana, IL/World Wide Web, February 2007
Taylor, Stephen, Hox (2014) for saxophone quartet. World premiere with the Quadrivium Saxophone Quartet, Strasbourg, France, July 2015
Thoegerson, Peter, Jove Defeats Saturn for poly-microtonal saxophones (2011), commission,
world premiere: February 2012
Thoegerson, Peter, Saturn Eats His Child for tenor saxophone and piano (2006), world premiere:
Bloomington, IN, February 2006
Tipei, Sever, Ghioc (2017) for baritone saxophone and fixed media, dedication, world premiere: Cincinnati, OH, March 2018
Wang, Fu-Tzun (Ashley), Revolve (2015) for saxophone quartet. World premiere with the Quadrivium Saxophone Quartet, Strasbourg, France, July 2015
Zhang, Zhaoyu, Love Song (2015) for voice, saxophone, percussion, and piano, world premiere: March 2015
Zhang, Zhaoyu, Unstable Flow (2014) for saxophone, violin, cello, and piano, world premiere: April 2014

Past Performances

October 2018 - Electronic Music Midwest
November 15, 2018 - Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Studio Theater
*guest performers include Eli Fieldsteel,, and Chad Wahls. Featuring works by Carlos Carrillo, Eli Fieldsteel, Kerrith Livengood, Sever Tipei, and S-Wyatt
November 15, 2018 - Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Studio Theater
*guest performers include Eli Fieldsteel,, and Chad Wahls. Featuring works by Carlos Carrillo, Eli Fieldsteel, Kerrith Livengood, Sever Tipei, and S-Wyatt
February 15, 2018/7:30pm/Foellenger Great Hall-KCPA - guest artist with MO Abbott and Whitney Ashe
March 9, 2018/Cincinnati, OH - North American Saxophone Alliance National Conference
July 2018 - World Saxophone Congress, Zagreb
- World premiere of Ascension Tube for ensemble (baritone saxophone) by MO Abbott
March 9, 2018/Cincinnati, OH - North American Saxophone Alliance National Conference
- World premiere of Gihoc for soprano saxophone and DISSCO by Sever Tipei
July 2018 - World Saxophone Congress, Zagreb
- Nosedive for saxophonist and live electronics by Eli Fieldsteel
- World Premiere of A Road Beyond for soprano saxophone and electronics by Scott Wyatt
- Quadrivium Saxophone Quartet - new works by Philipp Blume and Ralph Lewis

November 10, 2017 / 7:30pm / Studio Theater-KCPA
MANDEL - FIELDSTEEL - WAHLS: Retrogression and Evolution
- An evening of modern pop-art electronic and saxophone music. With special performances by EF and Guido Sanchez Portuguez.
- Box Office: https://krannertcenter.com/events/nathan-mandel-saxophone

November 17, 2016/7:30pm/Studio Theater-KCPA:
Illinois Modern Ensemble Scott Wyatt
- Counterpoints for soprano saxophone and electronics (1992, rev 2016 Mandel/Wahls/Wyatt) | Scott Wyatt
September 16, 2016/7:30pm/Urbana, IL: Illinois Modern Ensemble
- World Premiere - Show for solo tenor saxophone | Kerrith Livengood (2014)

July 15, 2016 / 8pm/Mise-En Place, Bushwick, NY
JN3NYC
- World Premiere - Fall Silent for tenor saxophone and electronics | John Nichols (2016)
April 1, 2016/7pm/Orpheum Theater, Champaign, IL: DoCha
- Fooled by Tango
March 2016/TBA/Lubbock, TX: North American Saxophone Alliance
- Mandel/Haken Duo - World Premiere: Ruhest du Auch for alto saxophone and electric viola | Carlos Carrillo Cotto (2016)
- Quadrivium Saxophone Quartet - American Premiere - Hox | Stephen A. Taylor (2013)

February 11, 2016 / 7:30pm / Urbana, IL
Illinois Modern Ensemble
Illinois Modern Ensemble
- American Premiere - There is no image, there is no poetry... for soprano saxophone and electronics | Sean Harold (2014/15)
2015
- July 2015 - World Saxophone Congress: Saxopen in Strasbourg, France. World premieres by Philipp Blume, Sean Harold, Stephen Taylor, and Ashley Wang.
- April 16, 2015 - with Suono Mobile USA at the Unruly Music Festival, Milwaukee
- March 13, 2015 - with Suono Mobile USA at the Graham Foundation Chicago, Spahlinger 70th Symposium
- March 11, 2015 - featuring a world premiere by Zhaoyu Zhang, 7:30pm, Smith Recital Hall, Urbana, IL
- February 24, 2015 - solo and ensemble judge and performance, Hoopeston Area Schools, Illinois