Renowned as an "artist beyond his time" by distinguished American composer John Corigliano and praised by Brutal New Music Reviews as possessing “the caliber of a soloist with whom composers dream to collaborate,” saxophonist Don-Paul Kahl has graced stages across Europe, the United States, Australia, Japan, and South-East Asia. His performance record includes invitations to prestigious music festivals such as the KURAIA Festival (ES), Tallinn New Music Days (ET), and Musica Nova Festival (US), among many others.

Don-Paul has showcased his virtuosity as a soloist with esteemed ensembles, including the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, Musa Horti, and the University of Florida Symphony Orchestra. A passionate advocate for contemporary music, he has premiered over 100 new works for saxophone by established composers, contributing significantly to the evolution of modern musical expression. Recent commissions include works by Ramon Lazkano, Stratis Minakakis, María Eugenia Luc, Yotam Haber, Katarina Miljokovic, and Nicholas Tzortzis, among many others.

In September 2021, Don-Paul released his debut solo album, "Go Within," on the Equilibrium Label. Featuring six compelling works the album demonstrates his commitment to championing the works by living composers. Collaborating with pianist Alessandro Cervino, the project showcases compositions by Molly Joyce, Stratis Minakakis, Eleni Ralli, Gregory Wanamaker, Mischa Zupko, and Kenichi Ikuno Sekiguchi.

Don-Paul was a prizewinner at the prestigious 4th Jean-Marie Londeix International Saxophone Competition in Bangkok, Thailand. Recently, EBM won the third and special prizes at the International Chamber Music Competition in Illzach, France. In 2017, they garnered first and special prizes at the Concours d'Interprétation de la Ville de Boulogne-Billancourt. Don-Paul was also awarded the Harriet Hale Woolley Scholarship for academic study in Paris, France for the 2013-2014 year. Other awards include prizewinner in the 2013 Marco Fiorindo Chamber Music Competition, University of Florida Concerto Competition, and the Susquehanna University Concerto Competition, along with several others.

Don-Paul is an avid clinician and gives masterclasses throughout Europe and the United States. Currently, he serves on the faculty at the Susquehanna University High School Wind Ensemble Institute in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. He served on the faculty at the College of Central Florida in Ocala, Florida where he taught applied study in both saxophone and clarinet. Concurrently, he served as the saxophone teaching assistant at the University of Florida.

As an avid and in-demand chamber musician, Don-Paul is active with the internationally acclaimed saxophone quartet, Ensemble du Bout du Monde (EBM), his duo with clarinetist, Jackie Glazier, Duo Entre-Nous (D2), with WOODWORK, a dynamic reed quintet based in Belgium, and the Central Pennsylvania saxophone and piano duo, Kahl & Nyce Duo. 

An advocate for digital forms of education, in late 2020 he became a co-director of the Thrive for Saxophonists from Music360. Born of a need for specialized education during the pandemic, Thrive was a brand new program for musicians to elevate their practice to a new level while adhering to strict social distance measures. He was responsible for determining which guest saxophone artists were invited to present each month and to manage the relations between members and guests. In addition, he gave private lessons, advice, and tips for understanding our current artistic situation given our relatively new digital life in the wake of the corona pandemic.

Currently, Don-Paul is living and working between the United States and Belgium as a freelance saxophonist. He is also a doctoral candidate for the Ph.D in Artistic Research in collaboration with Leiden University (NL) and the Orpheus Institute (BE). In 2017, he completed a post-graduate performatory research program at the Lemmensinstituut in Leuven, Belgium. Previously, he earned a Master of Music degree from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Music degree from Susquehanna University (Summa Cum Laude). His primary teachers and mentors are Jean-Michel Goury, Marcus Weiss, Jonathan Helton, Geoffrey Deibel, and Gail B. Levinsky, with additional study with Frederick L. Hemke.

Don-Paul Kahl is a Henri Selmer Paris and Conn-Selmer performing artist, and proudly performs on Selmer Paris saxophones exclusively.

Artist Endorsements

Equipment

Soprano Saxophone: 

• Henri Selmer Paris Super Action 80 Series III - Selmer Concept Mouthpiece - Selmer Ligature - Vandoren V12 Reeds, Strength 3.5

Alto Saxophone: 

• Henri Selmer Paris Supreme - Selmer S90-180 Mouthpiece - Ishimori Solid Silver Ligature - Vandoren Traditional Reeds, Strength 3-3.5

Tenor Saxophone: 

• Henri Selmer Paris Super Action 80 Series III - Selmer S90-180 Mouthpiece - Vandoren Optimum Ligature - Vandoren Traditional Reeds, Strength 3.5

Baritone Saxophone: 

• Henri Selmer Paris Super Action 80 Series II - Selmer S90-180 Mouthpiece - Ishimori Solid Silver Ligature - Vandoren Traditional Reeds, Strength 3.5-4