Michael Hernández, saxophone

Michael Hernández has been described as one of the leading soprano saxophone artists of his generation. His performances have captivated audiences in concert halls across Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, France, Holland, Austria, Italy, the UK as well as North and South America. As the founding soprano chair of the acclaimed MANA Quartet, Michael made history in 2009 when MANA became the first saxophone quartet to win the Alice Coleman Grand Prize at the 63rd Annual Coleman Chamber Music Competition. He also earned First Prize in the National MTNA Chamber Music Competition in 2007 and the Beverly Hills National Audition in 2017. Michael is the Co-Founder and owner of MANA Mouthpieces Inc., and frequently lectures on Music Entrepreneurship at colleges and festivals across the U.S. and Germany. An endorsing artist for MANA Mouthpieces, D'Addario Woodwinds, Key Leaves, RooPads, and Lefreque Sound Solutions, he performs on historical saxophones crafted to the specifications of the instrument’s inventor, Adolphe Sax. Currently, Michael serves as the Assistant Professor of Saxophone and Music Entrepreneurship at San Jose State University.