Saxophone

Professional placements
Assistant Professor of Music, East Texas Baptist University
Assistant Professor of Saxophone + Director of Jazz Ensembles, Lamar University (tenure track)
Instructor of Saxophone, University of Wyoming (sabbatical replacement)
Boulder Symphony Music Academy
Douglas County School District (Colorado)

Artistic + scholarly success
Winner—Colorado MTNA Young Artist Woodwind Competition (2023, 2024)
Winner—CU Boulder SoundWorks 64-bit Composition Competition (2024)
Finalist—Philharmonic Society of Arlington Young Artist Competition (2024)
Finalist—CU Boulder Ekstrand Graduate Competition; 2nd Place + Audience Choice (2024)
CU Boulder College of Teaching & Learning Fellow (2024-25)
CU Boulder B2 Black Box Studio Tank Fellowship (2024)
Selected for Bang on a Can (2025)
CU Boulder College of Music Dean's Travel Assistance for Graduate Students (2024, 2025)
CU Boulder Entrepreneurship Center for Music Grant (2025)
CU Boulder Center for Humanities & the Arts Grant (2024)

Graduate Students
Joel Ferst (Florida), DMA Saxophone Performance + Pedagogy, Doctoral Teaching Assistant
Spencer Cox (Tennessee), MM Saxophone Performance, Master’s Teaching Assistant
Catherine Oles (Texas), MM Saxophone Performance + Pedagogy, MME
Catherine Ryan (Arkansas), MM Saxophone Performance
Dylan King (Texas), MM Saxophone Performance + Pedagogy
Gavin Martellotti (Florida), MM Saxophone Performance
Jack Beatenhead (Florida), MM Saxophone Performance

Undergraduate students
Ashley Sanchez (Colorado), Music Education w/ Jazz emphasis
Carys Vaughan (Colorado), Music Education
Casey Coleman (Colorado), Music Education
Curtis Liu (Colorado), Saxophone Performance, Computer Science
Eli Ward (Texas), Saxophone Performance, Engineering
Elise Luzietti (Colorado), Saxophone Performance w/ Jazz emphasis
Kate Garmon (Colorado), Saxophone Performance
Matthew Gross (California), Saxophone Performance, Music Education
Morgan White (Kansas), Music Education
Ryan Weisberg (Colorado), Music Education
Sam Walker (Colorado), Music Technology
Sydney Bellora (Colorado), Music Education

Visiting campus
Prospective students are invited to tour our beautiful CU Boulder campus and the Imig Music Building at any time during the academic year.

While you’re on campus:

• Studio class is held on Mondays at 2:30 p.m. and is open to any saxophonists—and their parents—who are considering auditioning.
• Professor Mertens offers FREE 25-minute lessons to all prospective students! Please reach out directly to him to schedule your lesson!
• All faculty and student performances (recitals, chamber music and large ensemble) are free and many are livestreamed.

Playing at altitude
Boulder’s elevation (5,430 feet!) makes saxophone playing a bit different from playing at sea level. The thinner, drier air can affect both your breathing and your reeds. You may find that you tire more quickly or need to take breaks more often, and your reeds may dry out or respond differently than usual. It’s a good idea to bring a mouthpiece cap that you regularly use and slightly softer reeds than you normally play—for example, if you typically use 3.5s, consider bringing some 3.0 or 3.0+ reeds.

If possible, plan to arrive a day or two early so both you and your reeds have time to adjust. Stay well-hydrated (altitude dries everything out!), get some extra sleep and take frequent breaks during long practice sessions. Most importantly, don’t get discouraged—it can take time to adapt, but your body will adjust and your playing will follow!

Other tips/advice from Professor Mertens
Don’t wait to reach out to me—I’d love to hear from you! Whether you're just starting to explore college options or already considering CU Boulder, it’s never too early to connect. I’m always happy to share more about my teaching, the saxophone studio and all the incredible opportunities available at the CU Boulder College of Music. Let’s start a conversation and see how we can support your artistic journey!

I strongly encourage all saxophonists to:

• Study privately with a teacher (if you live in Colorado, feel free to contact me for a list of wonderful teachers!).
• Participate in school bands and chamber music programs.
• Join the North American Saxophone Alliance and attend the annual conference.
• Audition for honor bands, All-State and local competitions.
• Attend as many concerts of all kinds as you can! It’s crucial to listen to live performances, online streams and recordings at the highest level.

I’m often asked, “What are you looking for in a new student?” and I always answer the same way: “I’m looking for good people who also play the saxophone well.” To me, this goes beyond musical ability. I believe in the philosophy that “all boats rise with the tide,” meaning that—in our studio—we’re all in this together and one person’s success is everyone’s success. We support each other not just in becoming better saxophonists, but in growing as individuals who are socially and culturally responsible stewards of the saxophone and of music.