Domen Koren (Slovenia), saxophone

Kalle Oittinen (Finland), saxophone

Kenta Saito (Japan), saxophone

Sae Lee (Japan/Slovenia), piano

The second classical concert of the SAXGO26 festival will be, as by tradition, designed by the mentors/teachers of the classical saxophone workshop of this year’s Summer Saxophone School. Accompanied by the indispensable and irreplaceable pianist Sae Lee, three pedagogues and concertants will present themselves. All of them build their careers also with high rankings at the SAXGO International Saxophone Competition in Nova Gorica. Slovenian saxophonist Domen Koren won 3rd place here in 2016 and 2022, while both, the Finnish saxophonist Kalle Oittinen in 2016 and Japanese saxophonist Kenta Saito in 2018, won the 2nd place.

DOMEN KOREN (Slovenia)

Domen Koren began his musical journey under the mentorship of Prof. Betka Bizjak Kotnik, continued at the Ljubljana Conservatory of Music and Ballet (Prof. Lev Pupis), and graduated with distinction from the Academy of Music in Ljubljana (Prof. Matjaž Drevenšek). During his studies, he furthered his skills in Finland (Prof. Joonatan Rautiola) in Spain (Prof. Antonio Felipe Belijar and Mariano García), and completed his postgraduate specialization with Prof. Vincent David in Brussels. Domen is establishing himself as a soloist with various symphony orchestras. His extensive orchestral experience is highlighted by regular collaborations with the Berlin Philharmonic and all professional Slovenian orchestras. During his studies, he was a member of elite international youth orchestras such as the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, European Union Youth Orchestra, and Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra. A recipient of the academic Prešeren Award and multiple international first prizes, Domen is a member of the Ljubljana Saxophone Quartet and works as a mentor and conductor of the SOS and ADA saxophone orchestras. He performs at World Saxophone Congresses, collaborates with leading Slovenian festivals, and serves as a jury member at competitions. Composers regularly dedicate new works to him. A former scholarship recipient of the Slovenian Ministry of Culture, he now teaches at the Ljubljana Conservatory and Franc Šturm music schools and shares his expertise at masterclasses internationally.

KALLE OITTINEN (Finland)

Kalle Oittinen is a front row Finnish classical saxophonist. He works currently as a lecturer of saxophone in Tampere Conservatoire and teaches saxophone, saxophone pedagogy and chamber music in Tampere University of Applied Sciences and Sibelius-Academy. Oittinen is an experienced pedagogue who has worked on all levels from the very beginners to master students and emphasizes a holistic approach in his teaching. He is a versatile and open-minded musician whose projects vary from traditional classical saxophone groups all the way to jazz-band and music theatre. As a chamber musicianhe is a member of the Aava Saxophone Quartet, contemporary music ensemble TampereRaw and duos with pianists Hanna-Leena Savolainen and Tuomas Turriago. He works frequently with symphony orchestras and military bands and gives recitals whose programmes vary from arrangements of baroque/romantic era to contemporary music without forgetting the traditional classical saxophone repertoire. He works closely with Finnish composers and alongside premiering numerous works he has worked on new pedagogic material. Oittinen received the 2nd prize in the 8th International Saxophone Competition in Nova Gorica, Slovenia and has been awarded the Josef Kaartinen -prize and a stipend by the Finnish saxophone association as a credit of the work done for the benefit of saxophone playing in Finland. Oittinen is also a member of The Finnish Soloists’ Association, JLV Sound ambassador and artistic director of Pirkanmaa Saxophone Festival.

KENTA SAITO (Japan)

Kenta Saito is a Japanese saxophonist, First Prize and Best New Work Prize winner at the 7th Adolphe Sax International Competition, becoming the second Japanese laureate since Hiroshi Hara (2002) to receive this distinction. He performs extensively as a soloist and chamber musician, appearing with leading orchestras and wind ensembles throughout Japan, including the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra and the Gunma Symphony Orchestra. His artistic work spans solo repertoire, chamber music, and contemporary works, and includes his activities with the saxophone quintet FIVE by FIVE and as Concertmaster of the Blitz Philharmonic Winds, through which he continues to explore new expressive possibilities for the saxophone. Saito graduated with honors from Senzoku Gakuen College of Music and completed postgraduate studies at the Tokyo University of the Arts. His awards include prizes at the Japan Wind and Percussion Competition, the Daisen City Omagari New Music Festival, the Kawasaki City Azalea Excellence Award, and Second Prize at the International Saxophone Competition Nova Gorica (Slovenia). He has appeared on major Japanese broadcasts including TV Asahi, NHK-FM, and BS8K, and released his debut album GAISEN on CAFUA Records. He is regularly invited to give masterclasses at institutions in Europe, North America, and Asia, including the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, University of Colorado Denver, and Northwestern University. He currently serves as a lecturer at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music and Aoba Art Specialized School.

SAE LEE (Japan/Slovenia)

After studying at the Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo, Sae Lee graduated with honours in piano and chamber music from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris with Michel Beroff and Eric Le Sage. She is the first prize winner of several competitions, including the Città di Padova and Albert Roussel International Festival and chamber music competitions like the Fnapec, Carlo Soliva and Cidade de Alcobaça. She has performed at the renowned Paris Piano à Enghien Festival, at the Nevada-Semipalatinsk International Conference, which is sponsored by the Government of Kazakhstan and UNESCO, and on the Japanese national television programme NHK Classic Club. As a soloist she performed with a number of orchestras worldwide including the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra and Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra – she performed with them the Turangalîla’s Symphony by Olivier Messiaen. She collaborates with world renown ballet dancers like Aurélie Dupont (the Director of Paris Opera Ballet) and Kevin O’Hare (the Director of The Royale Ballet). Sae is currently employed at the Academy of Music of the University of Ljubljana. “Sae Lee is one of the most sought-after collaborative pianists of her generation. Her ability to interact with other musicians with exceptional instrumental and artistic level captivate audiences.”(source: Mainich newspaper).