Nick Ortiz
Nick Ortiz is a saxophonist and improviser pursuing a master’s degree in saxophone performance at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to coming to Milwaukee, Nick received a degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has given performances at Regional North American Saxophone Alliance conferences as part of the CHAOS Quartet and UIUC Saxophone Ensemble. Nick has been a featured soloist with the UWM Saxophone Ensemble and American Heritage Orchestra. Outside his classical studies, Nick is active in the jazz idiom as lead alto saxophone for the UWM Jazz Ensemble, and former Tenor Saxophonist for 6th Street Brass Band. The New Orleans style Brass Band performed across Champaign-Urbana and gave a mainstage performance at Summer Camp Music Festival. As an improviser, Nick examines historical improvisational practices while cultivating his own, collaborating with performance painters and dancers to create dynamic multidisciplinary performances.