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Saxophone takes Center Stage

Competitions
Winners of the Andorra International Saxophone Competition

Winners of the Andorra International Saxophone Competition

The tenth edition of the Andorra Sax Fest, which was held from 1 to 8 April, welcomed the main artists, young talents and sax teachers from all over the world to the Principality. In this edition, he broke a new record for participation in the Solo Sax Competition. 104 contestants from 32 different nationalities took part, thus consolidating the prestige and international recognition of this music competition.
The participants had to send a video so that the organization could carry out a pre-selection process. Once in Andorra and for three days, from April 1 to 3, the first round took place where they had to play the Elegie Op. 44 by Alexander Glazunov and “Three pieces for Solo Clarinet” by Igor Stravinsky. From here, 18 semi-finalists came out who took part in the second round where they had to interpret "Lamento et rondo" by Pierre Sancan.
 

 

Second Prize: Dmitry Pinchuk

Third Prize: Vladimir Petskus

Prizes:
First Prize: Marc Felis Candela
Second Prize: Dmitry Pinchuk
Third Prize: Vladimir Petskus


Jury:
Asya Fateyeva, Juan Pedro Luna, Mariano Garcia, Vincent David, Nacho Gascón, Nikita Zimin, Valentine Michaud, Simon Diricq, Claude Delangle, Kenneth Tse, Philippe Geiss, Jérôme Laran, Christophe Grèzes, Tomás Jerez, Daniel Gauthier, Unai Gutierrez, Albert Gumi, Martin Trillaud

Only six contestants made it to the Solo Sax finals. The finalists were Dmitry Pinchuk and Vladimir Petskus (Russia); Victor Cohilis (Belgium); Pierre Faget (France), Danylo Dovbish (Ukraine) and Marc Felis Candela (Spain). 
The jury emphasized the high technical and musical level demonstrated by all the finalists and, in general, by all the participants of the Andorra Sax Fest.
18 international teachers with a recognized professional career composed the jury. This year, the president of the jury was Asya Fateyeva, the first woman to win the third prize of the prestigious Adolphe-Sax Competition. Apart from Fateyeva the jury was composed by international artists such as Mariano García, Vicent David, Nacho Gascón, Nikita Zimin, Valentine Machaud, Simon Diriq, Claude Delange, Tomás Jerez, Kenneth Tse, Philippe Geis, Jérôme Laran, Christophe Grèzes, Daniel Gauthier, Unai Gutiérrez, Albert Gumí and Martin Trillaud
The final round was hotly challenged. The participants played the piece “Concerto” by Henri Tomasi and had the privilege of performing accompanied by the National Classical Orchestra of Andorra (ONCA). The winner was the Spaniard Marc Felis Candela, a 19-year-old who has been playing the saxophone since he was 4 years old. A true virtuoso of this instrument.
One the most emotional events of this tenth edition of the Andorra Sax Fest was the first edition of the Sax Awards. The aim is to recognize people, companies and institutions that contribute to promote the sax world. On this occasion the winners were Claude Delangle, the Diastema quartet and www.adolphesax.com .
During eight days, the Andorra Sax Fest hosted five concerts with 2.500 attendees, 250 accredited people, 136 participants among the Solo Sax and Youth Solo competitions, 18 international teachers and 150 masterclasses held.
Efrem Roca, artistic director of the Andorra Sax Fest: "We are very excited to reach this tenth edition. Overall, of these years, more than 1.000 saxophonists have taken part and every year those who participate show that they have a great technical and artistic level". And he added "next year we will give our best again and we hope that all of you will join us in this sax festival”.

©WFIMC 2023