Report on the International Saxophone Competition (Nova Gorica)

6th International Saxophone Competition in Slovenia

(Nova Gorica, 30th June - 3rd July 2011)

The 6th International Saxophone Competition took place in two age categories. In category 1 (the youngest category) competed saxophonists who were born in 1991 or later, in category 2 those who were born in 1985 or later. The competition started on June 30 with the qualification round of the category 2 and concluded on July 3 with the finals of category 1 and 2. One of the most attractive things for the competitors of category 2 was (besides the prizes) the final concert in which the finalists performed with the Slovene Philharmonic String Chamber Orchestra.

Finalists of both categories,; on the right : Matej Arcon (in the grey suit), Major of Nova Gorica, and Pavla Jarc (in a red dress), director of Nova Gorica Art Centre. In front: members of the jury. From left to right: Matjaž Drevenšek, artistic director, Jean-Yves Fourmeau, president of the jury, Daniel Gauthier and Miha Rogina. Lars Mlekusch – the fifth member of the jury, had to leave before the award-giving ceremony.

15 saxophonists from Belgium, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Ukraine competed in category 1. In category 2, 23 saxophonists from Croatia, France, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and different Asian countries participated. The president of the jury, the great French saxophonist Jean-Yves Fourmeau, said that the jury had to work really hard during the competition because all the competitors in both categories were good and excellent trained. But there was no doubt about the first prize winners of both categories: Juan Pedro Luna Agudo and Nicolas Arsenijevic were in terms of qualification in advance.

The prizes for the finalists went to:

Category 1:

1st Award: JUAN PEDRO LUNA AGUDO (1992, Spain). He received a scholarship of €400 for a summer masterclass on demand - Jeunesses Musicales Slovenia; a concert honorarium of €300 as a part of International concert series for young musicians “Young Virtuoso” organized by Ljubljana Festival; BG France alto sax mouthpiece by BG France. He received also special award – Nova Gorica Award - for the best performance of a Slovene piece of music. He got a certificate and a graphic artwork by Slovene academic painter Ana Zavadlav - the prize was awarded by the Municipality of Nova Gorica.

2nd Award: ROMAN FOTUIMA (1991, Ukraine). He received a gift voucher for €500 by Eugene Rousseau Music Products, USA; a saxophone case - Symphony International; BG - Duo (new) sax ligature by BG France.

3rd Award: ALEKSANDAR JANKECH (1995, Serbia). He received a gift voucher for €400 by Vandoren S.A.S., France; a saxophone case - Symphony International; a BG sax strap by BG France. He received also special award – EMCY Prize - certificate and a graphic artwork by the German artist Gottfried Jäger for his great musicality and characterful, inspiring playing. He is 16 years old, from Serbia and is studying in Austria.

4th place: MARTIN SKUBIN (1993, Slovenia)

5th place: JANINA LORENCI (1994, Slovenia)

6th place: JULITA CZYRKOWSKA (1992, Poland)

The three prize winners received also the Rico Pack from D'Addario and Company, Inc. (USA). All the participants performing in the finals got the certificates of attendance and were awarded a CD set recorded in the production or co-production with the Saksofonija Music Society.

Category 1:

1st Award: NICOLAS ARSENIJEVIC (1988, France) received a Selmer Series III Soprano Saxophone by Selmer Paris; at least one paid concert at the 2011/2012 Jeunesses Musicales Slovenia concert series - Jeunesses Musicales Slovenia; a paid concert as a part of the “Concert Atelier of the Society of Slovene Composers” concert series in 2012 organized by Society of Slovene Composers; performing as a soloist with the Slovene Philharmonic String Chamber Orchestra (KGOSF) - the concert will be a part of “Harmony of the Spheres” concert series in the 2012/13 season organized by Slovene Philharmonic String Chamber Orchestra, and BG alto sax mouthpiece by BG France.

2nd Award: BARTŁOMIEJ DUŚ (1988, Poland) received a Borgani alto saxophone by Orfeo Borgani, Italy; BG - Duo (new) sax ligature by BG France.

3rd Award: OSKAR LAZNIK (1987, Slovenia) received a Sequoia Soprano saxophone by Roberto Buttus, Italy, distributed in Slovenia by Vincero d.n.o.; BG sax strap by BG France. He got also a special award – ‘Kulturni dom Nova Gorica Award’ which went to the Slovene competitor with the best assessment - a concert honorarium in an amount of €500 as a part of the 16th International Saxophone Meeting, which will take place in Nova Gorica in 2012.

4th place: JANEZ URŠEJ (1989, Slovenia) an amount of €600 awarded by Saksofonija Music Society; 5th place: JONATHAN RADFORD (1990, Great Britain) an amount of €400 awarded by Saksofonija Music Society.

The three prize winners won also the Rico Pack from D'Addario and Company, Inc. (USA).

All the participants performing in the Finale were awarded a CD set recorded in the production or co-production with the Saksofonija Music Society and got the certificate of attendance.