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TEACHING
 

SAXOPHONE STUDIES AT ZURICH UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS (ZHdK)
 

https://www.zhdk.ch/en/degree-programmes/music

The Saxophone Class at Zurich University of the Arts brings together an extraordinary and diverse group of exceptionally talented musicians from all corners of the globe. Students come from countries such as Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Argentina, France, Austria, Hungary, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, Latvia, Poland, the UK, Israel, the USA, Thailand, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, and China. Each student adds to the class with their distinctive artistic vision and rich cultural background, creating a vibrant and inspiring environment.

Our students are laureates of prestigious international competitions and excel in a variety of musical genres, including classical and contemporary music, jazz, improvisation, pop, electronic music, and composition. Many are deeply passionate about teaching, either at music schools or as professors at universities. Others find fulfillment in art management or by combining multiple artistic disciplines into innovative careers.

The Zurich University of the Arts is a leading University of the Arts and offers an exceptional environment for study, particularly for those interested in collaborating across artistic disciplines beyond music. The university’s state-of-the-art facilities include numerous practice rooms, various concert halls, and the Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST), among many other resources.

Zurich – A City of Opportunity
 

Zurich is consistently ranked among the world’s most desirable cities to live in, with its high quality of life and vibrant cultural scene. Situated in the heart of Europe, by a picturesque lake and close to the Swiss Alps, Zurich offers a unique blend of natural beauty and urban excitement, making it an ideal location for both study and leisure. The city also ranks highly in global surveys of the best places for expats.

During your studies you will develop your independent artistic personality as a professional musician. The focus is on deepening your engagement with the instrument, with supplementary subjects in early and contemporary music. The exploration of performance practices from all historical periods is supported through workshops and subject-specific courses. A wide range of chamber music opportunities and plenty of room for pursuing your own project ideas offer chances for the practical application of what you have learned.

The mastery of the instrument in all its technical, artistic, historical, and social dimensions is achieved through the major and elective subjects. This is done through individual lessons, complemented by participation in internal and external masterclasses, competitions, and concerts, studio classes, as well as panels, class performances, and feedback sessions. Mentorships from the responsible instructors and external experts complete the offerings.
 

Ensemble and project work either under guidance or as self-organized and self-directed work in ensembles ranging from duos to octets, deepen collaborative and social skills.The zürich saxophone collective is the saxophone ensemble of this class and performs regularly at concerts in- and outside the University. Performances at Festspiele St. Gallen (with Kinsun Chan and the Dance Compnay of Theater. St. Gallen), World Saxophone Congress Zagreb 2018. Zürich Saxfest 2017, 2022, 2024, Dresden Semperopera Ballet and many others. 
The great US composer Alvin Lucier was amongst the many composers who wrote for the zürich saxophone collective. 

CURRENT STUDENTS OF THE ZHdK SAXOPHONE CLASS 2024/25
Sonia Tcherepanov
Ariel Levy
Tadej Pance
Nora Favre
Giovanni Ottomano
Iván Perdomo Roget
Juan David Toro Martín
Héctor Sorbino
Maria Gmyrek
Karol Mastalerz
Rei Murakami
Christian Kunz
Oskar Rzążewski 


ALUMNI OF THE ZHdK SAXOPHONE CLASS
Sandro Compagnon
Kezia Lovick-Jones
Jason Frazier
Sira Pellicer
Maria-Luisa Cuenca Arraez
Ranna Taniguchi
Robert Burton
Grace Juliet Macdonald
Petra Eszter Tóth
Simon Fluri
Gemma Galeano Ballestar
Ferran Gorrea  
Pisol Manatchinapisit
Uday Singh
Josep Mas Mestre
Celia Torres Perez
Faustyna Szudra-Ng
Adrian Carro Falagán  
Amit Dubester
Wojciech Chalupka
Sonja Oberkofler
Vincent Magnin
Aurélien Mérial
Paulina Pitenko
Kathrin Oseid
Joan Jordi Oliver
Valentine Michaud
Charles Ng-Szudra
Alejandro Ayax Llorente Gomez
Kay Zhang
Etienne Vailland
Marlon Valk
Simon Engel
Silvia Mazzolini

 

FORMER STUDENTS at Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität Wien (2005-2017)

Georg Palmanshofer
Istvan Szaller
David Delgado Martínez  
Nicolas Mizen
Patricia Coronel Avilés
Taewook Ahn
Edgars Trapens
Jakub Muras
Tadayoshi Kusakabe
Phil Pierick
Szymon Zawodny
Srdjan Paunovic
Hayrapet Arakelyan
Livia Ferrara
Alvaro Collao
Michael Knot
Aleksandar Jankech
Krzystof Gunka
Noemi Szöke
Leo Stern, France
Massimiliano Girardi
Timur Sijaric
Pieter Pellens
Joel Diegert
Damiano Grandesso
Kristina Serazin
Daisuke Ishida
Simone Müller
Oliver Duverger
Wojciech Psiuk
Anja Nedremo
Janez Ursej
Simon Sirec
Linus Amstad
Michael Krenn
Rachael Moorhead
Erzsébet Seleljo
Noemi Schwank
Goran Jurkovic
Ana Belen Arinero
Manuel Diaz Cotan
Jose Antonio Garcia
Anja Kronkreif
Fabien Girard
Petra Horvat
Konstanze Ackermann



AROSA MUSIC ACADEMY 

Lars Mlekusch is leading an annual summer chamber music schamber music  masterclass in Arosa, Switzerland.

For more information, please visit:

Arosa Music Academy (DE)
Arosa Music Academy (EN)
​​​

MASTERCLASSES

SWITZERLAND
Hochschule für Musik Basel
Hochschule für Musik Luzern
Scuola Universitaria di Musica di Lugano
Haute Ecole de Musique de Lausanne

FRANCE
European Saxophone University Gap
Conservatoire Nationale Supérieur de Musique de Paris
Conservatoire de Bordeaux Jacques Thibaud
Conservatoire CRR Boulogne-Billancourt
Conservatoire Mulhouse 
Conservatoire CRR Cergy-Pontoise

Conservatoire HEAR Strasbourg
CESMD de Poitou-Charentes Poitiers
Stage de Virtuosité et d'Interprétation

CROATIA
University of Music Split
University of Music Zagreb 

 

POLAND
Chopin University of Music Warsaw
Academy of Music of Poznan
Academy of Music of Krakow
Academy of Music of Katowice

 

ITALY
Conservatorio di Musica Giuseppe Verdi Milano
Conservatorio di Musica Santa Cecilia Roma
Conservatorio di Musica Trieste
Fermo Saxophone Festival 

Alpen Classic Saxfest Bressanone

SPAIN
European Saxophone Congress Ciudad Real
Conservatorio Superior de Musica de Vigo
Conservatorio Superior de Musica de A Coruna
Conservatorio Superior de Musica Zaragoza Aragon
Conservatorio Superior de Musica de Sevilla
Conservatorio Superior de Musica Palma de Mallorca
Conservatorio Real Superior de Musica Madrid
Conservatorio Superior de Musica de Alicante
Conservatorio Superior de Musica de Malaga
Conservatorio Superior de Musica de Granada
Conservatorio Superior de Musica de Cordoba

USA/CANADA
Northwestern University Chicago
Eastman School of Music Rochester
Manhattan School of Music New York
New England Conservatory Boston
University of Miami
University of Central Florida Orlando
Florida State University Tallahassee
University of Florida Gainesville
De Paul University Chicago
Bowling Green State University
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Toronto
Brigham Young University Rexburg 
Michigan State University Lansing

 

 

COMPETITION JURIES

M-Prize Chamber Music Comp. University of Michigan 2018
Nochta Saxophone Competition Zagreb 2017
Varazdin International Wind & Brass Competition 2016
EMONA Competition Slovenia 2015
Odessa Golden Saxophone Competition 2015
Adolphe Sax Competition Dinant 2014
Deutscher Musikwettbewerb Bonn 2012
Jean Marie Londeix Competition Bangkok 2011
Nova Gorica Saxophone Competition 2011
Prima La Musica Austria 2010-2015
Schweizerischer Jugendmusikwettbewerb 2022, 2024

 

UNIVERSITY FINAL JURIES 
Hochschule für Musik Basel, Haute Ecole de Musique Strasbourg, HEM Geneve, HEM Lausanne, CESMD de Poitou-Charentes Poitiers, Conservatoire de Bordeaux Jacques Thibaud and others

AUSTRIA
impuls academy Graz since 2013

THE NETHERLANDS
Conservatorium of Amsterdam
Conservatorium of Utrecht
Conservatorium of Music The Hague 

 

BELGIUM
Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussels
Conservatoire Royal Bruxelles

 

SWEDEN
Royal College of Music Stockholm

 

SLOVENIA
Conservatory of Music Ljubljana
Academy of Music Ljubljana

UK
Royal College of Music London
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

 

HUNGARY
Music University of Debrecen

 

PORTUGAL
European Saxophone Congress Porto
University of Music Aveiro

GERMANY
Hochschule für Musik und Theater Köln
Hochschule für Musik Nürnberg
Hochschule für Musik Würzburg
Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin
Universität der Künste Berlin

TAIWAN
National Taiwan University of the Arts TNUA
Asia Saxophone Congress Taiwan Chayi

 

CHINA
Beijing Central Conservatory of Music
Sichuan Conservatory of Music
Shanghai Conservatory of Music

 

JAPAN
Senzoku Gauken College of Music Tokyo
Kunitachi College of Music 

 

SINGAPORE
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

 

THAILAND
World Saxophone Congress Bangkok 2009
Mahidol University Bangkok

New Zealand
Victoria University Wellington New Zealand
University of Hamilton New Zealand

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