Dr. Nathan Jorgensen is Director of Jazz Studies at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) where he is responsible for teaching applied saxophone lessons, directs two jazz ensembles, serves as administrator and coordinator of the Clark Terry Jazz Festival, and is the producer of the UNH Traditional Jazz Series.
Jorgensen is an accomplished saxophonist and feels at home in nearly every musical situation. He has performed with artists such as Terell Stafford, Bobby Watson, Dick Oatts, Bobby Shew, Gary Foster, Alexa Tarantino and Bob Sheppard. His classical performances include dates with the Kansas City Symphony, the South Dakota Symphony, the Dakota Wind Ensemble, and he has been featured as a concerto soloist with several ensembles. Jorgensen is also an active proponent of new music. He has given numerous premieres and commissioned several works as an individual and as part of consortiums. He has collaborated extensively with Dr. Aaron Ragsdale, who is the Professor of Percussion at South Dakota State University. Their saxophone and percussion duo has performed numerous recitals throughout the United States. Their first CD, A Miraculous Tale: Mixed Music for Percussion and Saxophone, was released by Centaur Records in March of 2017.
As a director, Jorgensen’s ensembles have performed with Chris Potter, Donny McCaslin, Bob Sheppard, Steve Wilson, Marshall Gilkes, Dick Oatts, Bobby Shew, Gary Foster, Victor Lewis, and many others. At UNH Jorgensen regularly hosts residencies by some of the top performers, composers and historians in jazz. He started an annual commissioning project dedicated to his predecessor, Dave Seiler. Jorgensen’s bands have premiered new works from composers such as John Clayton, Dan Gailey, John LaBarbera, Steve Owen, Greg Yasinitsky, Bob Washut, Mike Conrad, and Paul Kreuger. The UNH 3 O'Clock Jazz Band released their first CD under Jorgensen's direction in April of 2016 titled A Time Of Celebration. The band has also been featured internationally at the Umbria Jazz Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Jorgensen is in demand as a performer, clinician, adjudicator, and lecturer. He has performed by invitation at regional and national conventions for professional organizations such as the North American Saxophone Alliance, College Music Society, and the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors. He is currently a member of the Capitol Jazz Orchestra based in Concord, NH, and is lead alto of the Portland Jazz Orchestra, which is based in Portland, ME. In 2021, Jorgensen was named musical director of the Seacoast Big Band, which performs