Hailed as a “World class performer!” and “An extraordinary talent!” Michael Hernandez has been heard in concert halls throughout Germany, Switzerland, Poland, France, Holland, Austria, Italy, the UK, Canada, and the United States. He has also been broadcasted several times nationwide on NPR’s Performance Today. Recently Hernandez has appeared with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, The San Jose Chamber Orchestra, Echo Chamber Orchestra, the Phoenix Symphony Guild, The National Music Festival Orchestra, The Hot Springs Music Festival Orchestra, The Santa Cruz Symphony, The San Jose State University Orchestra, New Century Chamber Orchestra, and The Monterey Symphony

As founding soprano saxophonist of the critically acclaimed Mana Quartet, Michael has been invited to hold residencies at dozens of music festivals and universities including Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, Hot Springs Music Festival, National Music Festival, Music in the Mountains, The Taneycomo Festival Orchestra, The Festival of New American Music, Ethos New Music Festival, and the Oklahoma State Contemporary Music Festival.

Hernandez is a Key Leaves endorsing artist, as well as a D’Addario Performing Artist, and plays exclusively on Reserve Classic Reeds; he performs on an historical saxophone built to the acoustical specifications of the instrument’s inventor, Adolphe Sax. Michael’s primary teachers include Dr. Wildy Zumwalt, Dr. Ronald Caravan, Professor Patrick Meighan and Carina Raschér. Michael currently serves on the faculty of San Jose State University, and is Principal Saxophonist of the Santa Cruz Symphony.