International Saxfest in Zurich
The first Swiss festival focusing on classical saxophone will take place in Zurich in March 2017. Lars Mlekusch, professor of saxophone and chamber music at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and in Vienna, is behind the event.
Over three days (March 3 to 5, 2017), lectures, master classes and concerts will take place in condensed form, mainly in the rooms of the Toni-Areal - with the participation of two old masters of the saxophone, Frederick L. Hemke (Chicago) and Iwan Roth (Lugano) - according to Mlekusch the "father of the classical saxophone in Switzerland" - as well as young stars of the scene such as Nikita Zimin (Moscow).
During the day, students from all saxophone classes at Swiss universities will present concerts, some of them interdisciplinary projects. In the evenings, successful alumni and their current projects are presented alongside the guests, such as the Ensemble Nikel with Patrick Stadler, the Trio Saeitenwind with Jonas Tschanz or Too Hot To Hoot with Kevin Juillerat from Lausanne.
The concert programs focus on contemporary music, including some world premieres, but also on arrangements such as "Le Sacre" by Stravinsky for saxophone orchestra and percussion. There will also be a performance by "Five Sax" with musicians from Poland, Belgium, the USA, Italy and Chile.
