Biography

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 Bi-annual 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.

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Jonathan has placed in competitions such as 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 Requiem, with the University of South Carolina Wind Ensemble. In 2018, he won the BGSU graduate concerto competition and performed Marius Constant's Concertante with the BGSU Orchestra.

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Chamber music has always been a large focus in Jonathan’s career. His bass trombone and saxophone duo “Wind Collision” have given performances at both regional and national conferences. In 2018, the duo commissioned 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. He has also performed and given masterclasses with the Red Hill quartet at The University of Alabama, Columbus State University, Samford University, and Troy University. 

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Jonathan earned a D.M. from Florida State University where he served as the teaching assistant for Dr. Geoffrey Deibel. He received his M.M. from Bowling Green State University, where he served as the woodwind methods teaching assistant under Dr. John Sampen. He earned his B.M. from the University of South Carolina under the instruction of Dr. Clifford Leaman.