Nicholas M. Brightman, saxophone and chamber music (saxophone
quartet)
Nicholas Brightman is a freelance saxophonist and teacher in
Indianapolis, Indiana. As a soloist, he has performed with the
Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra, the Nebraska Chamber Orchestra,
the Pierre Monteux Domaine School Orchestra, the Fort Wayne
Philharmonic Orchestra, the Eastern Illinois Symphony Orchestra,
the Purdue University Symphonic Band, the Butler University
Symphonic Band and many exceptional high school bands throughout
Indiana. In addition to frequent solo appearances, Mr. Brightman
regularly appears as saxophonist in the woodwind sections of the
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Indianapolis Chamber
Orchestra, and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra. He also plays
soprano and alto saxophones in the Indianapolis Saxophone
Quartet.
Mr. Brightman began playing saxophone in middle school under the
direction of Dr. Cecil Leeson. He continued studying with Dr.
Leeson at Ball State University's School of Music in Muncie,
Indiana, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Music Education
and Master of Music Degrees. Mr. Brightman plays a Leblanc "Paris
System" Model 100 alto saxophone, and he has been a clinician for
G. Leblanc Corporation in Kenosha, Wisconsin since 1974. Besides
playing all the saxophones, he also plays clarinet and bass
clarinet.
During his extensive music career, Mr. Brightman has traveled
across the country playing in orchestras supporting respected
artists such as Andy Williams, Perry Como, and Natalie Cole. He has
played engagements in and around the Indianapolis area with Aretha
Franklin, Mel Torme, the Temptations, Lou Rawls, and many other
fine musicians. On several occasions, Mr. Brightman has also made
solo recital appearances in connection with his teaching
career.
In the fall of 1985 Mr. Brightman joined the Purdue University
Bands instructional staff as adjunct professor of saxophone and
coordinator of applied music studies. During his tenure there,
which ended in the spring of 1995, he established the Purdue
University Bands Applied Music Studies Program, and for the first
time in the history of Purdue University students on the West
Lafayette campus could take private lessons on all band and
orchestral instruments and receive humanities credit. Classical
guitar, piano and jazz improvisation lessons are also a part of the
applied studies curriculum.
Currently, Mr. Brightman is adjunct instructor of saxophone and
saxophone quartet at the Jordan College of Fine Arts at Butler
University. He also taught there from 1973 to 1977. In addition to
his other professional duties, Mr. Brightman owns and operates Nick
Brightman's Woodwind Repair, which he started in 1978. This
business is located in the Broad Ripple area of Indianapolis. nicksaxfix@sbcglobal.net
(317) 940-9631
nbrightm@butler.edu