THE SAXTOPUS Crossover Project

#FLUTE #BEATBOX #SAXOPHONES #CLASSICAL #CONTEMPORARY #POPART #CROSSOVER #ELECTRONICS #COVER #ENERGETIC

Members:

Simon Širec – alto saxophone, flute, EWI Danijel Lauko – baritone saxophone

For longer gigs “Crossover project” includes a second part with the drummer. In this case the trio has a heavy sound and offers a lively party ambient.

The Saxtopus owns the microphones for following instruments:

Alto saxophone – pick up microphone Flute – pick up microphone Baritone saxophone – pick up microphone EWI (electronic wind instrument) – midi instrument.

When the drummer is involved, the microphones for the drummer would be needed from the event organizer.

Simon Širec (1987), received his formal education at the Conservatory for Music and Ballet (Dejan Prešiček - 2008), City of University, (Lars Mlekusch – BA 2012) and University of Music and performing Arts Graz (Gerald Preinfalk – MA 2014). Širec also holds a university degree of musicology from the Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana, where he graduated in 2011. He has been awarded on several competitions. Among others he is a 3-times prizewinner of the Fidelio competition in Vienna in the filed of classical music, as well as in the field of interdisciplinary projects. As a member of the European Saxophone Ensemble he has been touring around Europe in 2010 and 2011 (Nicosia, Thessaloniki, Sofia, Budapest, Vienna, Milano, Prague, Ostrava, Bratislava, Timisoara, Berlin, Maribor, , Tilburg, Poitiers, Brussels and ) where a CD and a DVD had also been recorded. Širec has premiered more than 30 works, either as a soloist, chamber or an orchestra musician, as well as a member of an interdisciplinary ensemble (dance, music, acting). In December 2013, he has premiered a piece Vibration of Light II, a concerto for 2 soloists and an orchestra by Wen Liu. A classical contemporary composition by a renowned Chinese composer was a big success for its innovative approach and technical virtuosity of its own kind. The piece is the foundation of the musical language, which he has developed with Danijel Lauko as a member of The Saxtopus Duo. In 2014 he presented 2 of his own compositions (Viva Napoli – Baritone Saxophone and “Next” for Soprano Saxophone and electronics) at Vienna SaxFest, where the critics from the European Cultural News described him as the “Bobby McFerrin on the Saxophone”. He was commercially exposed for his unique playing technics on the saxophones and the flute in the show got talent, where he gained a great media attention for receiving the gold button. In 2014 his musicological research “Development of the Slovenian Saxophone Repertoire” has been published. As a part of his theoretical activities he has been giving lectures in Slovenia and Austria.

Danijel Lauko (1987) started to play the saxophone in his home town Muta, Slovenia at the age of 8 and recieved his further education at the Conservatory for Music and Ballet in Maribor in the class of Peter Kruder. He continued his studies of classical saxophone at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, where he completed his Bachelor (2011) and Master (2013) studies with honours in the class of Gerald Preinfalk. In 2012 he also completed a pedagogical education to become a saxophone teacher. He has been active either as a soloist or a member of various chamber groups and orchestras. In 2011 he performed as a soloist with the Music University Orchestra from Graz. In 2012 and 2013 Lauko performed with the same orchestra a piece Licks & Brains II by Klas Torstennson as a member of the saxophone quartet Saxotic. In 2013 he premiered the piece Vibration of Light II by Wen Liu as a member of The Saxtopus Duo with the Krka Wind Orchestra. A classical contemporary composition by a renowned Chinese composer was a big success for its innovative approach and technical virtuosity of its own kind. Lauko also participated on various saxophone competitions while studying and was awarded frequntly. He was awarded with the 1st prize at the music competition of Davorin Jenko in Belgrade in years 2009 and 2010. Lauko is known by his outstanding technical abilities on the saxophone, which could be heard on his official recordings, such as Alter Ego by Georges Aperghis and Jungle by Christian Lauba.