zürich saxophone collective

Alvin Lucier wrote his latest work for the zürich saxophone collective: The Two Grey Hills! World premiere at the world saxophone congress in Zagreb July 2018:
The zürich saxophone collective consists of 12 young and highly talented saxophonists, all students in the Zurich University of the arts, in the class of renowned saxophonist, conductor and pedagogue, Prof. Lars Mlekusch.

The zsc brings together a unique mixture of musical cultures and traditions, with members coming from all four corners of the world; Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Israel, Switzerland, France, Spain, Latvia and Norway, to name a few. All members of the ensemble are highly trained musicians in the fields of Classical and Contemporary Music.

As Artistic Director and Conductor of the Ensemble, Lars Mlekusch aspires to express this pluralism and diversity of cultures by creating a musical program that presents a wide spectrum of styles and aesthetics, ranging from premiering works of well-known contemporary composers, through transcriptions of symphonic masterpieces and much more.

The spectacle presented to the public is fascinating and interactive. It portrays the embodiment of the Contemporary Musician of our time; a creative, knowledgeable instrumentalist who constantly seeks to experiment and correspond with different art forms; an ever-evolving, interdisciplinary artist.

The musical program of the Ensemble is vast and diverse, therefore suitable for a variety of audiences.

https://www.facebook.com/Zurich-Saxophone-Ensemble-294594167687407/

members 2017/2018:
Faustyna Szudra, Poland
Yi Lu,  China
Alejandro Ayax Llorente Gomez, Spain
Vincent Magnin,  Switzerland
Pisol Manatchinapisit, Thailand
Paulina Pitenko, Latvia
Ferran Gorrea Munoz, Spain
Kathrine Oseid, Norway
Amit Dubester, Israel
Joan Jordi Oliver Arcos, Spain
Charles Ng, Hong Kong
Valentine Michaud, France

AUDIO and VIDEO SAMPLES

Junghae Lee: Kyol (2017): https://youtu.be/B1hqax9Swjs

Michael Norris: Orbits of Influence: https://youtu.be/hZk1VDAx2Og

Thierry Alla: Polychrome https://youtu.be/laSobbYGf7M

Igor Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps: https://youtu.be/PpuxzYJjjB8

Camille Saint-Saëns: Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso: https://youtu.be/d0NO5hz12fk

REPERTOIRE SELECTION

original works for saxophone ensemble
Dirk D´Ase – In Search of Lost (dedicated to the vienna saxophonic orchestra)
Thierry Alla – Polychrome
Steve Reich – New York Counterpoint
Duncan Youngerman – Solastalgia (dedicated to the vienna saxophonic orchestra)
John Cage – Four 5
Francisco Guerrero – Rhea
Junghae Lee – Kyol (dedicated to th zsc 2017)
Felix Ibarrondo – Akaitz
Michaeln Norris – Orbits of Influence (dedicated to the vienna saxophonic orchestra)
Christian Wolff – Isn´t this a Time
James Tenney – Saxony
Philip Glass – The Windcatcher
Alvin Lucier – Two Grey Hills (dedicated to the zsc 2017)

transcriptions
Camille Saint-Saëns – Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso
Richard Strauss – Serenade op. 7
Edward H. Grieg – Holberg Suite
Paul Dukas – L´Apprenti Sorcier
Edward H. Grieg – String Quartet
Antonin Dvorak – Serenade op. 44
Bela Bartok – Divertimento
Igor Stravinsky – Le Sacre du Printemps
Modest Mussorgsky – A Night on the bare mountain
Pjotr Iljitsch Tschaikowski – Serenade op. 48

Sample concert programs:

MINIMAL
Duncan Youngerman – Solastalgia
Steve Reich – New York Counterpoint
Philip Glass – The Windcatcher
Alvin Lucier – Two Grey Hills

OF SORCERERS, WITCHES AND DRAGONS
Paul Dukas – L´Apprenti Sorcier
Modest Mussorgsky – A Night on the Bare Mountain
Richard Wagner – Siegfried Idyll

SERENADES
Pjotr Iljitsch Tschaikowski – Serenade op. 48
Antonin Dvorak – Serenade op. 44
Richard Strauss – Serenade for winds op. 7

HAPPY NEW EARS
James Tenney – Saxony
Thierry Alla – Polychrome
John Cage – Four 5
Francisco Guerrero – Rhea
Alvin Lucier – Two Grey Hills

WEBSITE AND CONTACTS
https://saxzhdk.com/zurich-saxophone-ensemble/
Verein Adolphe Sax, c/o Lars Mlekusch, Schiffbaustrasse 7, 8005 Zürich