Jonathan Wintringham - saxophone
“A major force in the saxophone world,” (American Record Guide) internationally acclaimed saxophonist and recording artist Jonathan Wintringham has been described as “absolutely stunning” and “nothing short of a virtuoso” (‘The Sax’ Magazine, Japan). “Possessing a confidence and grace that comes from somewhere beyond experience,” (Arizona Daily Star) “he phrases with an artistic awareness well beyond his years; and he tackles the postmodernist content of his program with extreme volume shifts [and] daring color changes” (ARG). He has given recitals, masterclasses and residencies throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, England and Japan. An advocate of contemporary music, Jonathan is constantly working with composers to commission and premiere new works.
As a soloist, Wintringham has received first place awards in numerous competitions including the 2013 Astral Artists National Auditions, the 2013 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) National Young Artist Competition, the 2011 Arizona State University Concerto Competition, the 2009 Tucson Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, the 2009 University of Arizona President’s Concerto Competition and the 2008 Tucson Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition. As a result of the 2014 Mahler Philharmoniker's International Auditions, Wintringham was the first saxophonist selected to join the MPhil Artist's Roster, based in Vienna, Austria. Other awards include the 2012 North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Classical Solo Competition, the 2012 & 2008 MTNA National Chamber Music Competition, the 2012 & 2008 MTNA National Young Artist Competition, the 2008 Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition and the 2013 William C. Byrd Concerto Competition.
Wintringham has performed alongside many world-renowned musicians including Timothy McAllister, director of the Institute for New Music at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, Masato Kumoi, the Masato Kumoi Saxophone Quartet and Kazuhiro Takagi, concertmaster of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. In 2012, Jonathan was invited to premiere Alex Orfaly’s Divertissement No. 2 as a member of the New World Symphony Orchestra. He has given guest artist recitals and masterclasses at numerous institutions including the London College of Music, Arizona State University, and the University of Arizona and was the first featured Artist in Residence at the Zennor Music Series in Cornwall, England. Jonathan recently became the first classical saxophonist to be featured on American Public Media's Performance Today: Young Artists in Residence, as a representative of the Eastman School of Music. He has been interviewed and invited to perform for several other television and radio shows including FOX News, KLPX, and KUAT Television. His debut CD, Walimai, has been broadcast internationally on England’s BBC and Japan’s FMN1, and is available on the Equilibrium (Albany) label. Additionally, Jonathan’s former award-winning chamber ensemble, The Catalina Quartet, can be heard on AUR’s America’s Millennium Tribute to Adolphe Sax, Volume XIV presenting the North American premiere recording of Gavin Bryar’s Alaric I or II.
In addition to his duo with composer and pianist Michael Djupstrom, Wintringham performs regularly as a member of the Bando/Wintringham Duo. Together with renowned saxophonist and Professor of Saxophone at the Tokyo School of Music and the Kunitachi School of Music, Kuninobu Bando, the Tokyo-based chamber ensemble has received numerous accolades for their international performances since their formation in 2009. Jonathan further served as a member of several recording and award-winning chamber ensembles including the Presidio Saxophone Quartet, the Catalina Saxophone Quartet, the Taleus Saxophone Quartet and the saxophone trio, Trikaya.
Wintringham is currently a teaching assistant and the assistant director of the Eastman Saxophone Project (ESP) at the Eastman School of Music where he is pursuing a Master of Music degree in Saxophone Performance and Literature under the instruction of Chien-Kwan Lin. Holding a Bachelor of Music degree from The University of Arizona, Jonathan’s instructors have included Timothy McAllister, Nobuya Sugawa, Masato Kumoi, Kelland Thomas and Asako Inoue. Furthermore, he has performed in masterclass settings for Masataka Hirano, Hitomi Hara, John Sampen, Kenneth Tse and James Umble. He has participated in several of the world’s most prestigious fine arts camps including the Hamamatsu International Wind Instrument Academy and Festival in 2008 and 2009. As a recipient of the University of Arizona’s Undergraduate Research Grant, Jonathan performed a six-month Tokyo based investigation into the inner workings of the collegiate training systems and musical cultures of Japan.
Wintringham is a Conn-Selmer artist, and plays Selmer (Paris) saxophones exclusively. He is also an Astral Performing Artist, an MPhil Artist and an endorsing artist for MusicMedic.com’s RooPads.