Mentors and jury:

• Jean-Yves Fourmeau
• Matjaž Drevenšek
• Daniel Gauthier
• Lars Mlekusch
• Miha Rogina

• Dejan Prešiček, secretary of the competition

• Zoltan Peter, piano accompanist
• Sae Lee, piano accompanist

Mentors and jury

Jean-Yves Fourmeau (F) – president
is heir to the great French school of the traditional saxophone. He makes the saxophone radiate under all his facets of musical performance: solo, chamber, orchestral and teaching. He has built a distinguished career: when he was only 17 years old, he won the first prize at the prestigious CNSM de Paris, 3rd cycle of chamber music saxophone and piano. Since 2006, he performs as a saxophone soloist in Berlin Philharmonic and Radio-France Orchestra. He is the founder of the quartet which was named after him. At an international level, he is regarded as one of best saxophonists. He works as a professor at the Conservatoire National de Region de Cergy-Pontoise in Paris. From 2000 to 2001 he was a guest professor at the Indiana University Bloomington. At present, he collaborates as an artist consultant at the Yamaha, where he has contributed to the artistic development and the acoustic improvements of the saxophone. As a director of collection to the Billaudot editions, he has contributed to widen the repertoire of the saxophone. He gives concerts and masterclasses throughout Europe, Asia, Canada, the USA, and Australia. He has recorded 14 CDs and is the only saxophonist in the world who has distributed under the label ‘Philips Classic’.

Matjaž Drevenšek (SLO)
is a resident professor of saxophone at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, a soloist, a chamber performer, a member of the Zagreb Saxophone Quartet and a member of other ensembles, with which he performs throughout Europe, Canada as well as the USA. As a soloist, he plays with leading symphonic orchestras and concert bands at home and abroad (Croatia, France, USA), he is also a saxophone soloist in the Slovene Philharmonic Orchestra. As a member of juries, he collaborates at Slovenian and international competitions for young musicians in Bayreuth, Graz, Krško, Limogez, Nova Gorica, Požarevac, Riga and Szczecinek). He has premiered over 50 pieces by domestic and foreign composers, and he has taken part in 19 discographic projects in Slovenia, Croatia and USA. He used to be the president of the Saksofonija Music Society, which during the summer of 2006 hosted the 14th World Saxophone Congress. He was the president of the Jeunesses Musicales Slovenia. Since 2004 he is the artistic director of the International Saxophone Meetings and International Saxophone Competition in Nova Gorica.

Daniel Gauthier (DE/CAN)
completed his studies in Canada and France. After winning first prizes in saxophone at the Montreal Conservatory and Bordeaux Conservatory, he was awarded a PhD in interpretation at the University of Montreal. At the age of twenty-four, he became the first saxophonist to win the Grand Prize in the International Stepping Stone of the Canadian Music Competition. He was a prizewinner at the Ancona International Music Competition (Italy) and won scholarships to the Canadian Art Council and Quebec Ministry of Culture. He has performed in Canada’s major cities as well as in Washington, Argentina, Japan, and in many European cities. He has held masterclasses in almost all European countries and he has also been a juror in the most prominent international saxophone competitions in the world. In 1997, he was appointed a professorship at the Detmold Academy of Music (Germany). In 2003, he moved to the Cologne Academy of Music. Since 2000 Gauthier has been a member of the International Saxophone Committee. He received the famous ‘Echo Klassik’ German CD Award twice; first in 2005 with the Alliage Quartet and second in 2006 when performing as a soloist. Since 2008 he has recorded for ‘SONY Classical’.

Lars Mlekusch (A/CH)
is a graduate from the University of Music in Basel where he studied saxophone with Marcus Weiss and from Northwestern University (Chicago) where he studied with Frederick L. Hemke. He continued his private studies with Arno Bornkamp and Claude Delangle. He has performed in prestigious concert halls and at festivals in most European countries as well as in New Zealand, Asia, and in the USA. He is a member of the Vienna Based Soloist Ensemble phace contemporary music and a guest musician with the Klangforum Wien. After having specialized in contemporary music, Lars has performed numerous world premieres for solo saxophone or works written for one of his ensembles. Since 2005 he is a professor for saxophone and chamber music at the Konservatorium Wien University. From 2004 to 2007 he taught saxophone at the University of Music in Basel. Mlekusch has been teaching masterclasses in Europe and Bangkok. Claude Delangle invited him to teach at the European University of Saxophone in Gap (France).

Miha Rogina (SLO)
is described as ‘the best saxophonist of today’s younger generation’ by The Sax magazine. He has been recognised for his innovative interpretations of musical works. He has won 1st prize in no fewer than 10 international competitions. He has worked with today’s leading musicians including Pierre Boulez and has appeared on major international concert stages throughout Europe, Asia, the USA and Africa such as the Musikverein in Vienna or Salle Pleyel in Paris. He initially studied in Ljubljana with Matjaž Drevenšek and continued his studies in France with Jean-Yves Fourmeau, Vincent David, and at the prestigious CNSM de Paris with Claude Delangle, where he graduated with highest honors. He also studied at the renowned Eastman School of Music in the USA. As an active chamber musician, he frequently performs with concert pianist Sae Lee, with whom he performs worldwide as the Duo Kalypso. He has been a professor at the Music Academy of Ljubljana.

Secretary of the Competition:

Dejan Prešiček (SLO)
graduated from the Frankfurt Music Academy and continued his studies at Jean-Marie Londeix’s masterclass in Bordeaux, where he was awarded a Gold medal as well as the Prize of honor of the City of Bordeaux. At present, he is a member of the Slavko Osterc Trio and Ensemble 4Saxess, and a co-founder of the Saksofonija Music Society. He has recorded for RTV Slovenia and various radio and television houses (BBC London, state German stations, Radio Lisboa), and has participated in recording numerous CDs. He works as a director and teacher for saxophone and chamber music at the Ljubljana Music and Ballet Conservatory. He is a part-time lecturer at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana.

Piano accompanists:

Zoltan Peter (SLO)
began his academic studies in the class of Arbo Valdma at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad. He completed his piano studies at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. As a soloist, chamber musician and piano accompanist for all generations of top musicians, he has performed in Slovenia and abroad. He is one of the finest chamber and piano accompanists who has mastered an extensive repertoire. He takes part in national and international masterclasses and competitions. Apart from teaching and giving concerts, he gives seminars for piano students, teachers and piano accompanists.

Sae Lee (Japan-Korea)
Sae Lee after studying at the University of Music Toho-Gakuen with prof. Etsko Tazaki and professors Julia & Konstantin Ganev, she continued her studies at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique de Paris with prof. Michel Beroff and prof. Eric Le Sage. In 2007 and 2008 she graduated with the highest marks of Piano and Chamber Music from the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique de Paris. She was the first prize winner at various international piano competitions in Japan, Italy and Bulgaria. Sae Lee is regularly invited to the music festivals and gives recitals and chamber music concerts in Europe and Japan.