ARTISTIC DIRECTION 2018

Matjaž Drevenšek (SI) is a resident professor of saxophone and Vice Dean at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, a soloist, chamber performer, member of the Zagreb Saxophone Quartet, SOS Saxophone Orchestra and of other ensembles with which he performs throughout Europe, Asia, Canada, South America and the USA. As a soloist, he plays with leading symphony orchestras and concert bands at home (Slovene Philharmonic Orchestra, RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, SNG Maribor Symphony Orchestra, Slovenian Army Orchestra, and Police Orchestra) and abroad (Hong Kong Festival Wind Orchestra - China, Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Croatian Radiotelevision Symphony Orchestra and Big band, Zagreb Solists, Croatian Chamber Orchestra, and Croatian Army Symphonic Wind Orchestra - Croatia, Orchestre de la Garde républicaine - France, Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra – GB, Emory Wind Ensemble and University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble - USA). He took part, as a jury member, in Slovenian and international competitions for young musicians (Austria, France, Croatia, Italy, Latvia, Germany, Macedonia, Poland, and Serbia). He premiered over 50 pieces by domestic and foreign composers, and he has taken part in 20 discography projects. He was formally president of the Saksofonija Music Society, which during the summer of 2006 hosted the 14th World Saxophone Congress. He also served as president of the Jeunesses Musicales Slovenia. Since 2004 he is the artistic director of the International Saxophone Meetings and International Saxophone Competition in Nova Gorica.

Boštjan Simon (SI) graduated in Philosophy from the Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana with prof. Lev Kreft with a thesis on John Cage and the Twilight of the Arts. Having completed his saxophone studies at the Amsterdam Conservatory of Music, he devoted his time to improvisation and performances all over Europe. Currently, he teaches saxophone at the Nova Gorica School of Music and is a founding member of Big Band Nova, Trus!, There Be Monsters, Vanilla Riot and Velkro. He is interested in a range of approaches to improvising on the saxophone, exploring sound using alternative techniques, and using different effects and live sampling. His compositions include elements of various genres, as well as mixed rhythms and techniques of Indian polyrhythms. His sax solos and compositions have been included in more than 14 editions, published by several record companies.