Jonathon Nickell is an avid educator and performer of saxophone and multiple woodwinds. He holds bachelor’s degrees in music education and music performance from the University of Kentucky. There, he studied saxophone in classical and jazz mediums with Miles and Lisa Osland. He also studied clarinet with Dr. Scott Wright, and bassoon with Professor Peter Simpson. During this time, Jonathon held a full-time studio, directing quartets and saxophone choirs, and taught at several schools across Kentucky. Jonathon also holds a master’s degree in saxophone performance from the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is currently attending the University of Missouri-Kansas City where he studies saxophone with Professor Zach Shemon. He also works at Peak Performance Woodwinds and teaches at Liberty North High School and with Harmony Project Kansas City each week. Jonathon has performed with multiple groups across Kansas City in multiple genres and recently performed Andre Waignein’s Rhapsody for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra with the UMKC Conservatory Orchestra. Jonathon performs actively on multiple woodwinds instruments in pit orchestras and chamber ensembles. He commissions new works regularly in conjunction with Martin Mendez for their percussion/saxophone duo. He has competed and placed in various competitions, including an invitation to the Aeolus International Competition 2022. Jonathon currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Saxophone and Director of Jazz Ensemble at Eastern Kentucky University, and as Adjunct Professor of Saxophone at Benedictine College.