Professors:
Matjaž Drevenšek is a resident professor of saxophone at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, a soloist, chamber performer, member of the Zagreb Saxophone Quartet and of other ensembles with whom he performs throughout Europe, Asia, Canada and the USA. As a soloist, he plays with leading symphony orchestras and concert bands at home and abroad (Croatia, France, Hong Kong, USA), he is also a saxophone soloist in the Slovene Philharmonic Orchestra. As a member of juries, he has collaborated at Slovenian and international competitions for young musicians. He has premiered over 50 pieces by domestic and foreign composers, and he has taken part in 19 discographic projects. He was formally president of the Saksofonija Music Society, which during the summer of 2006 hosted the 14th World Saxophone Congress. He has also served as 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. www.zagrebsax4.net
Phillipe Geiss is professor at the Strasbourg Superior Conservatory which is now associated with the first French superior school of the arts. An internationally regarded saxophonist and widely performed composer, he is one of the first musicians from the French saxophone school who has built his own «crossover» style between classical and improvised music and plays every instrument of the saxophone family. As an active musician worldwide, Philippe has given concerts and masterclasses all over the world. For many years, Philippe has been very involved in instrument research and development. He develops reeds with Rico, saxophones with Selmer Paris and new electronic instruments with Da Fact. As a composer, his music has been performed by renowned musicians and ensembles; his compositions include works for beginners to high level performers. Each year he organizes a major saxophone festival in Strasbourg - Les Rencontres du Saxophone. www.philippegeiss.com
Jean-Denis Michat graduated from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris with degree in saxophone as well as in composition, analysis, music history and new music technology. At the age of 25, he was appointed saxophone professor at the Conservatoire National de Région in Lyon, and later he was promoted to assistant-professor at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris (CNSMDP). He gives lessons at masterclasses in France and abroad to saxophone students as well as to tutors, he also teaches at saxophone summer schools in Gap (France). Furthermore he is also a jury member at the international competitions. As a concert performer, Jean-Denis Michat is recognized for the high quality of his performances of classical pieces, and is known for devoting careful attention to transcriptions of the classical literature. As a leading artist he collaborates, assists and takes part in developing and promoting the manufacturing of the Yanagisawa Saxophone. He has not only premiered the pieces by renowned composers, such as Stockhausen, Mantovani, Ton That Tiet, Escaich, Levy, Merah and others to consistent acclaim, but he is also becoming well-known as a composer. www.jdmichat.com
Nicolas Prost, an atypical saxophonist from France, is a modern interpreter who frequently performs on both acoustic and electronic saxophones. A member of the Lamoureux Orchestra and other chamber music groups, he also appears as a soloist in many important orchestras. Sensitive to the development of saxophone literature, he has written numerous pedagogic works, authored the book "Saxophone a la française", made numerous recordings which have been lauded by international reviewers and has given the world premieres of more than 90 new pieces dedicated to him. He is a prize-winner of prestigious awards and teaches at the Saint-Maur-des-Fossés Conservatoire, and also gives conferences and masterclasses at many international universities. www.saxiana.fr
Gordan Tudor, saxophone player and composer, studied in Split, Zagreb, Amsterdam and Paris. He is a winner of numerous national and international competitions for saxophonists. He has performed throughout Europe and North America in various chamber ensembles and with many orchestras as a solo player. As a performer, he has premiered thirty pieces by both Croatian and foreign composers, and as a composer himself he has experimented with various genres and combinations of instruments. His most recent notable work is a “ballet noir” The Plumber, based on the novel by Boris Vian. He is the artistic director of the “Days of New Music” festival in Split, which annually hosts eminent musicians from all over the world. He is a saxophone teacher at the “Josip Hatze” Conservatory in Split, as well as professor of saxophone at the Music Academy in Novi Sad (Serbia). www.gordantudor.com
Piano accompanist
Zoltan Peter began his academic studies in the class of Arbo Valdma at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad and 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 across Slovenia and abroad. As one of the finest chamber and piano accompanists in the region, he has mastered an extensive repertoire and has taken part in countless domestic and international masterclasses and competitions. Apart from teaching and performing, he also gives seminars for piano students, teachers and piano accompanists. Festival Masterclasses
Festival Masterclasses
