Concerts & Events
Monterey Symphony @ Sherwood Hall- Salinas, CA
Principal Saxophonist - Pops Youth Concerts
9:00am & 11:00am
San José Contemporary Music Festival
San Jose Contemporary Music Festival Chamber Concert featuring the work of 2025 Composer in Residence, Gabriela Lena Frank.
Michael will perform the new version of Sueños De Chambi for soprano saxophone and piano.
Calliope East Bay Music & Arts
Michael and duo partner Philip Jung perform a recital of new music for soprano saxophone and piano. The concert will feature the World Premiere of a new work by Marc Mellits as well as Bay Area Composer Juan Sebastián Cardona Ospina. Other composers featured are Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Karalyn Schubring, Ola Gjeilo, Robert Schumann and Georg Philip Telemann!
Soloist with the Echo Chamber Orchestra
Michael will make his third appearance as Guest Soloist with the Echo Chamber Orchestra performing Alexander Glazunov’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra in Eb.
Camphill Communities California
Michael and duo partner Philip Jung perform “Music in the Light of Anthroposophy” at the Camphill Community of California. Featuring works by Bach, Schumann, Gerhard, Ullmann, Tallarico, Haba and Scelsi.
Anthroposophical Society in America - First Parish in Cambridge
Michael performs “Music in the Light of Anthroposophy” as a kick off to the 100 Years Steiner Conference. Hosted by the Anthroposophical Society in America. Works by Bach, Gerhard, Scelsi, Haba, Denhoff, Ullmann and more!
Masterclass @ Longy School of Music - Cambridge, MA
Masterclass for the saxophone studio at Longy School of Music of Bard College.
Cal Performances “LA BELLE ET LA BETE” by Philip Glass
This astonishingly original presentation of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast blurs the distinctions between film and live opera, merging Jean Cocteau’s classic 1946 romantic fantasy with Philip Glass’ mesmerizing 1994 score. Glass composed the music as a new soundtrack to the film, transforming the original spoken French dialogue into sung libretto.
Cal Performances “ LA BELLE ET LA BÊTE” by Philip Glass
This astonishingly original presentation of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast blurs the distinctions between film and live opera, merging Jean Cocteau’s classic 1946 romantic fantasy with Philip Glass’ mesmerizing 1994 score. Glass composed the music as a new soundtrack to the film, transforming the original spoken French dialogue into sung libretto.
Music @4 Series
Michael and duo partner Philip Jung perform a recital of new music for soprano saxophone and piano. The concert will feature the World Premiere of a new work by Marc Mellits as well as Bay Area Composer Juan Sebastián Cardona Ospina. Other composers featured are Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Karalyn Schubring, Ola Gjeilo, Robert Schumann and Georg Philip Telemann!
Community Concerts, Mountainview, CA
MANA Quartet presents the “History of the Saxophone Quartet” on the Community Concerts Series in Mountainview. Called a “groundbreaking ensemble” by the Los Angeles Chronicle, the San Francisco Bay Area-based MANA Quartet invites listeners on a journey through “The History of the Saxophone Quartet.” This vivid program opens with Jean Baptiste Singelée’s 19th-century showpiece—widely credited as the earliest saxophone quartet—continues with Alexander Glazunov’s 1932 masterwork, and culminates in a neo-romantic gem composed specifically for MANA by Stephen Dankner. Performing on vintage instruments built to Adolphe Sax’s original specifications, MANA brings new life to rarely heard repertoire and champions the saxophone in classical music. Expect a stirring performance that spans more than a century of musical evolution!
Celebrating Living Composers and Interactive Concert @ The San Jose Art Museum
Join Michael and friends for an interactive concert featuring artwork and music by living composers against the backdrop of beautiful artwork on display at the San Jose Art Museum.
After Everything New Music Collective - Berkeley, CA
This is what our July concert is about:
the beauty of partial truths and the richness of perspectives.
Some works explore this intellectually. Others, emotionally.
But all of them live in that space of shared yet unique experience.
After Everything New Music Collective - San Francisco
This is what our July concert is about:
the beauty of partial truths and the richness of perspectives.
Some works explore this intellectually. Others, emotionally.
But all of them live in that space of shared yet unique experience.
MSI Closing Concert
The MSI Saxophone Orchestra performs the final Institute Concert
Details TBD
MSI Outreach Concert #1
The MANA Saxophone Institute Performs a lunchtime concert at San Pedro Square - free and open to the public!
MSI Chamber Recital
An evening of chamber music presented by the participants of MSI 2025
MANA Chamber Players
The MANA Chamber players perform a variety of chamber music for saxophone and piano! Including the American premiere of a work by Dimitri Terzakis and works by Singelee, Poulenc, Bach, and more!
The MANA Quartet Opening Concert
The MANA Quartet performs the Opening Night Recital of the 16th Annual MANA Saxophone Institute with works by Dankner, Broder and Wuorinen!
The MANA Saxophone Institute 2025
The MANA Quartet holds their 16th Annual Mana Saxophone Institute at San Jose State University!
Saxophonists of all ages from all over the US and abroad gather to perform chamber music, saxophone orchestra repertoire and take part in masterclasses and seminars with members of the critically acclaimed MANA Quartet
Music at Noon @ Santa Clara Unversity
The MANA Quartet performs on the Music at Noon Series at Santa Clara University
To Kalon Club
To Kalon “Highest Beatuy“ Club of San Jose will host an afternoon of soprano saxophone chamber music. Michael will be joined by his students in the ECHO QUARTET.
Guest Artist Recital @ University of Illinois at Chicago
Michael joins Decho Ensemble for an evening of New Music at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Latinx Storytellers Project @ Northeastern Illinois University
Michael performs works from his Latinx Storytellers Project at Northeastern Illinois University. Works by Caitlin Santos, Juan Sebastián Cardona Ospina, Luis Miguel Delgado Grande, Gabriel José Bolaños, Victor Ibarra and more!
Latinx Storytellers Project @ Onondaga Contemporary Music Festival - Syracuse, NY
Michael will present his Latinx Storytellers Program at the Onondaga Contemporary Music Festival at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, NY.
Soloist w/ UC Davis Wind Ensemble
Michael will be guest soloist with the UC Davis Wind Ensemble under the direction of Pete Nowlen performing “Eyes to Look Otherwise” by Juan Sebastian Cardona Ospina
SJSU Saxophone Day!
SJSU Sax Studio is hosting SAXOPHONE DAY with Special Guests from the world renowned Raschèr Saxophone Quartet and Jazz saxophonist Tony Peebles. Join us for a fun filled day of saxophone clinics, masterclasses, lessons and concerts! Lunch provided - open to saxophonists of all ages - FREE!
Irvine Community College
SJSU Auditions followed by Guest Clinic
“How to take an Audition”
Soloist w/ the San Jose Chamber Orchestra
Michael will appear as soloist with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Maestra Barbara Day Turner performing Danzón No. 6 for Soprano Saxophone and Orchestra by Mexican composer, Arturo Marquez.
SJSU Faculty Recital w/ Catalina Barraza
SJSU violin professor Catalina Barraza and Michael will perform a faculty chamber concert featuring new works for violin and soprano saxophone. Additionally Michael will perform the World Premiere of a new work for soprano saxophone and piano by Marc Mellits.
Soloist w/ Syracuse University Wind Ensemble
Michael will perform the World Premiere of Eyes to Look Otherwise with the Syracuse University Wind Ensemble.
Eyes to Look Otherwise by Juan Sebastián Cardona Ospina is a new concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Wind Ensemble dedicated to Michael and commissioned by the Latinx Storytellers Project.
Symphony San Jose
“The Classics” Michael will play principal saxophone for Bolero, American in Paris and Rhapsody in Blue.
Symphony San Jose
“The Classics” Michael will be principal saxophonist for Bolero, American in Paris, Rhapsody in Blue, and Copland Piano Concerto!
Soloist w/ the San Francisco Pride Concert Band
Michael will appear as Soloist with the San Francisco Pride Concert Band at Herbst Theater for the premiere/ preview concert of a new concerto by Juan Sebastian Cardona Ospina dedicated to Michael as part of the Latinx Storytellers Project.
Eyes to Look Otherwise is a three movement concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Wind Ensemble based on three paintings by SF based LGBTQ visual artist Tino Rodriguez.
Soloist with the Santa Cruz Symphony - Santa Cruz, CA
Michael performs John William’s ESCAPADES from the 2002 film Catch Me If You Can with the Santa Cruz Symphony
“John Williams needs no introduction as a film composer, but he has also written numerous concert pieces. Escapades straddles both worlds: it is a concert work derived from the score to Steven Spielberg’s 2002 film Catch Me If You Can. Williams described it as an impressionistic memoir of the progressive jazz movement that was popular in the 1960s.”
Soloist with the Redwood Symphony - Redwood City, CA
Michael performs John William’s ESCAPADES from the 2002 film Catch Me If You Can with the Redwood Symphony
“John Williams needs no introduction as a film composer, but he has also written numerous concert pieces. Escapades straddles both worlds: it is a concert work derived from the score to Steven Spielberg’s 2002 film Catch Me If You Can. Williams described it as an impressionistic memoir of the progressive jazz movement that was popular in the 1960s.”
MANA Quartet Outreach Concerts
MANA Quartet will be visiting Bay Area High Schools and Middles Schools for educational outreaches
Rotunda Concert
The Rotunda Concert is a surround sound / visual experience with world premiere performances of new electro-acoustic music composed by Christopher Luna-Mega and Pablo Furman. The concert will take place in the San José City Hall Rotunda.
MANA Quartet Outreach Concerts
MANA Quartet will be performing outreach concerts and school visits in the Palo Alto School Districts.