I have very been passionate about teaching and mentoring the next generation since the beginning of my career as a professional musician. As a teacher, my goal is to guide each student on their unique artistic path toward fulfillment and excellence.

At the ZURICH UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS I teach saxophone, chamber music and contemporary music. ​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​SAXOPHONE STUDIES AT THE ZURICH UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS  

https://www.zhdk.ch/en/degree-programmes/music
BA Music, Saxophone
MA Music Performance, Saxophone 

MA Music Pedagogy, Saxophone 

MA Specialized Music Performance (Soloist, Ensemble or Contemporary Music) 

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At ZHdK you have the possibility to choose from a wide range of different majors and minors. 

ART_IS_TRY CONTEMPORARY MUSIC COLLECTIVE  
the collective focuses on new repertoire and also explores possible scenographic and transdisciplinary approaches. 

ATELIER NEUE MUSIK / ATELIER CONTEMPORARY MUSIC 
Each semester I teach an Atelier. course. Alternating between an open interpretation of solo and chamber music repertoire for all instrumentalists and singers, and a more thematic Atelier. So far we did:

With the composers present: Georges Aperghis, Laura Bowler, Helmut Lachenmann, George Lewis, Francesco Filidei, Beat Furrer, Wolfgang Mitterer, Simon Steen-Andersen, German Toro-Pérez, Alvin Lucier,
Further also Atelier with works by Xenakis, Grisey, Tenney, Murail,  Stockhausen, Abrahamsen, Andriessen, Rzewski.
 

CHAMBER MUSIC COACHING 
Open to all instrumentalists and singers. Repertoire ranges from Baroque to most recently works written. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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.

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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.

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The Saxophone Programme at ZHdK 
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 musical. 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 choreographer Kinsun Chan and the Dance Compnay of Theater. St. Gallen), Sax and the City Festivals Zürich, Musikpodium Zürich, MIMIKO Basel, Lange Nacht der Museen, World Saxophone Congress Zagreb 2018. Vienna Saxfest 2016, Zürich Saxfest 2017, 2022, 2024, Windhoek Festival Trossingen, and many others. 
The great US composer Alvin Lucier was amongst the many composers who wrote for the zürich saxophone collective. 

MASTERCLASSES
Students also get to work with invited guests in Masterclasses. Since 2016 these have included the saxophonists: 
Nicolas Arsenijevic, Mariano Garcia, Lars Niederstrasser, Claude Delangle, Frederick L. Hemke, Arno Bornkamp, Nikita Zimin, Christian Wirth, Joonatan Rautiola, Javier Linares, Pawel Gusnar, Marie-Bernadette Charrier, Rolf-Erik Nystrom, Paul Cohen, Vincent Le Quang, Salim(a) Javaid, Kenneth Tse, Patrick Stadler, David Brutti, Harry White, Michal Knot, Michael Krenn, Rodrigo Vila, Alvaro Collao, Pieter Pellens, Frank Gratkowski, Valentine Michaud. 
 

CURRENT STUDENTS OF THE ZHdK SAXOPHONE CLASS 2025/2026
Pol Moral Vargas, Christian Kunz. Alejandro Latorre, Anna Nalter, Leonor Dias, Sonia Tcherepanov, Ariel Levy, Tadej Pance, Nora Favre, Giovanni Ottomano, Iván Perdomo Roget, Juan David Toro Martín, Oskar Rzążewski 

ALUMNI OF THE ZHdK SAXOPHONE CLASS since 2015
Héctor Sobrino, Rei Murakami, Maria Gmyrek, Karol Mastalerz (exchange student), 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  (exchange student), Vincent Magnin, Aurélien Mérial, Paulina Pitenko, Kathrin Oseid, Joan Jordi Oliver, Valentine Michaud, Charles Ng, Alejandro Ayax Llorente Gomez, Kay Zhang, Etienne Vaillend (exchange, student), Marlon Valk (exchange student), Simon Engel, Silvia Mazzolini
 

ALUMNI OF THE SAXOPHONE CLASS AT MUSIC AND ART UNIVERSITY VIENNA 2005-2017

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

many of our alumni are busy chamber musicians, soloists and passionate teachers and professor, such as: 
Valentine Michaud: Soloist, teacher at Conservatoire Populaire Genève
Sira Pellicer: Litore Saxophone Quartet, chamber musician, soloist, Art Manager
Simon Fluri: Solist, chamber musician, teacher 
Sandro Compagnon: Soloist, Faculty European Saxophone University Gap 
Michal Knot: Duo Aliada, Signum Saxophone Quartet 
Krzysztof Gunka: member of Spółdzielnia Muzyczna, teacher at Academy of Music Krakow
Pisol Manatchinapisit: Faculty memeber at College of Music, Mahidol University Bangkok 
Rob Burton: Finalist of BBC Young Musician 2018, Advanced Diploma Royal Academy of Music London, Soloist, Teacher 
Wojciech Chalupka: Nemesis Saxophone Quartet, Composer 
Goran Jurkovic: a leading Croatian saxophonist and pedagogue. 
Jakob Muras: The Whoop Group
Aurélien Mérial: Chamber Musician, teacher at CRR Toulon 
Srdjan Paunovic: a leading Serbian saxophonist 
Taewook Ahn: Sonic.Art Saxophone Quartet, saxophonist with leading orchestras in Germany 
Amit Dubester: Soloist. Chamber Musician, Teacher at Musikschule/Konservatorium Zürich, Art & Music Manager 
Pisol Manatchinapisit: Teacher at Mahidol Universiity College of Music, Tacet(i) Ensemble
Michael Krenn: Professor at Music and Art University Vienna, Ensemble PHACE, OENM, Mobilis Saxophone Quartet 
Álvaro Collao León; Teacher at University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna MdW, Five Sax
Pieter Pellens: Professor at the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp, Blindman 
Tadayoshi Kusakabe: Hiroshima Wind Orchestra, Lecturer at Kyoto Women's University 
Charles Hon Sun Ng: Five Sax, teacher at Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts 
Georg Palmanshofer: Teacher at University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna MdW, Mobilis Saxophone Quartet 
Erzsebet Seleljo: Teacher at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music Budapest
Szymon Zawodny: Professor at Music Academy Gdansk, The Whoop Groop 
Timur Sijaric: Music Theory Teacher at MUK Wien and the University of Music Lucerne 
Anja Nedremo: Teacher at the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, chamber musician 
Massimiliano Girardi: Teacher at Conservatorio "F.Cilea" in Reggio Calabria, Milano Saxophone Quartet
Damiano Grandesso: Teacher at Conservatorio Caltanissetta, Five Sax, Milano Saxophone Quartet 
Livia Ferrara: Milano Saxophone Quartet
and many more!!

AROSA MUSIC ACADEMY 

Lars Mlekusch is leading an annual saxophone & chamber music masterclass in Arosa, Switzerland.
Saxophone Faculty 2026: Nicolas Arsenijevic, Christian Wirth., Lars Mlekusch 
Past faculty included Kenneth Tse (2024, 2025), Lutz Koppetsch (2024), Jean-Yves Fourmeau, Timothy McAllister (until 2023) 

For more information, please visit:
Arosa Music Academy (EN)