“Hernandez’s rich and lush tone offers an unfettered palette of colors that constantly react to the emotional need of the music. His musical intelligence, his talent and his spirit of adventure make him a strong musical collaborator.”
-Nicole Paiement, Artistic Director/Conductor Opera Parallèle, San Francisco
“Michael Hernandez is a truly unique player with a special understanding on playing my music. His playing is a total amalgamation of tone, color, balance, drive, and line that gives the listener a path into the music that is unique and all encompassing.”
Marc Mellits, composer
Current Projects
A new work for soprano saxophone by Marc Mellits!
Michael is excited to share with audiences next season a brand new work for Soprano Saxophone and String Quartet by Marc Mellits!
Michael presents Latinx Storytellers @ the Festival of New American Music
Michael was invited to be an artist in residence at the 46th Annual Festival of New American Music @ Sacramento State. In addition masterclasses and guest lectures where he spoke on music entrepreneurship he also premiered several new works as part of his Latinx Storytellers program. More about Latinx Storytellers
“The Song of Creation” by Juan Sebastián Cardona Ospina
The Song of Creation (2020/24) is a new concerto for soprano saxophone and wind ensemble composed by Juan Sebastián Cardona Ospina and dedicated to Michael Hernandez. The work was commissioned by the Latinx Storytellers Project and is based on the artwork of Mexican-American artist, Tino Rodriguez.
Called a “groundbreaking ensemble” by the Los Angeles Chronicle, the San Francisco Bay Area-based MANA Quartet has repeatedly won high praise from today’s leading composers, noted as “vigorous and accomplished…deserving every success” and “beautifully balanced…a new bright light in the world of chamber music” by Pulitzer Prize winners Charles Wuorinen and Ellen Taafe Zwilich. Championed as “Saxophone Ambassadors” by Chamber Music Magazine, MANA embodies its namesake as a force advocating for the saxophone in classical music
Meet the MANA Quartet
MANA Mouthpieces
A breath of fresh air
Get empowered . Express yourself no matter where you are on your musical journey.
Experience smooth and flexible sound with effortless articulation, precise high tones, and an ease of projection that few can match.
MANA Mouthpieces is the product of years of touring, performing some of the most demanding chamber music out there, agonizing about sound and tone quality and exploring all available options. Through years of trial and error, we took note of what works and what doesn’t and the result is encapsulated in the MANA Mouthpiece.
“A world-class performer…words cannot describe the magic that happens when this superb artist performs!”
-the Artist Series of Tallahassee