Enrique Franco – Spain

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Enrique Franco – Spain

The “Concert for Saxophone and Orchestra” by Carlos Cruz de Castro was new in Madrid; an important work based on the balanced and contrasting dialogue between the soloist – with a very virtuous part mastered by Francisco Martínez – …

He is one of the saxophonists who has contributed most to the saxophone repertoire in the last 30 years. His activity has led to the world premiere of 203 works for saxophone and the publication of 18 CDs and 2 DVDs so far. He has performed in over 20 countries in the Americas, Asia and Europe and has performed five world premieres of concerts with orchestra. As an interpreter he is greatly appreciated for his sound, technique and quality of interpretation that has earned him the highest acclaim.

He is the founder and artistic director of Sax-Ensemble Group. This group is considered one of the best contemporary music groups in Europe and is the largest contributor to the international repertoire of saxophone in the last 20 years. It was the first group of chamber of Spain awarded the National Prize for Music.

He is a saxophone professor at the Royal Superior Conservatory of Madrid and also Head of Wood Wind Department. His training at conservatories in Madrid and Alicante, and later in Paris, Bordeaux, and with the most renowned professors of the French school have allowed him to be one of the best prepared teachers in Spain. Many students have passed through his classrooms and more than 70 teachers have completed their saxophone studies in his classrooms.

He has taught courses and masterclasses in addition to Spain, Russia, Poland, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Holland, Portugal, Slovenia, Canada and the United States.

He was the founder of the Association of Spanish Saxophonists, and organizer of many activities to promote the saxophone in Spain. In 1987 he organized in Alicante the II European Saxophone Meeting, where the Sax-Ensemble performed for the first time. Later he taught the first Saxophone European University in France (1989), and founded the Saxophone European University in Spain (1990). In 1993 he founded the Sax-Ensemble foundation which is currently the artistic director and which organizes the cycle Music for the Third Millennium. He is currently president the Governing Board of the Foundation Sax-Ensemble. He was artistic director of the I European Saxophone Congress “Eursax 2014”. Also is president of the European Saxophone Committee.

He has published articles in the magazine “Anuario Musical” (Higher Council of Scientific Researcho of Spain) in the revues: Music and Education, Euphony, Melomano, Ritmo, El País, Viento, Allegro, “Music” published by Royal Conservatory of Madrid and the magazine ASE.

He has done PhDs in Musicology and Applied Creativity at the Autonomous University of Madrid. In 2011 he obtained the title of European Doctor in Musicology with the qualification “outstanding cum laude”. He have been part of the juries most importants in national and international competitions