Matjaž Drevenšek

Matjaž Drevenšek is a resident professor of saxophone and Vice Dean at the University of Ljubljana Academy of Music. As a member of the Zagreb Saxophone Quartet and various other ensembles, he has enthralled audiences through his performances across Europe, South America, Asia, Canada, and the USA. As a soloist Drevenšek performs with the prominent symphonic and wind orchestras not only in Slovenia but also abroad, including France, Hong Kong, Croatia, and the USA. He currently holds the prestigious position of solo saxophonist in the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra and is an integral member and artistic co-director of S.O.S. (Sequoia Orchestra of Saxophones). He was a member of many national and international juries (Bayreuth, Germany; Belgrade, Serbia; Graz, Austria; Krško, Slovenia; Limoges, F; Nichelino/Torino, Italy; Nova Gorica, Slovenia; Požarevac, Serbia; Riga, Latvia; Szczecinek, Poland; Zagreb, Croatia…). He has also led various international summer schools and masterclasses in locations like Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Hvar, Krško, Ljubljana, Podsreda, Portorož, and Zagreb, as well as throughout the USA.

Drevenšek’s dedication to new music is evident in his premieres of over 50 works by Slovenian and foreign composers. He has contributed to 19 discography editions, earning eight Croatian Discography Awards Porin.

In addition to his teaching and performance commitments, he serves as the artistic director of the International Saxophone Meetings and International Saxophone Competition in Nova Gorica since 2004. Furthermore, he has held leadership roles, including President, in the Saksofonija Music Society, which organized the 14th World Saxophone Congress in Ljubljana in 2006, and as President of Jeunesses Musicales Slovenia from 2002 to 2006.