With CvA teachers Arno Bornkamp, Tim Kliphuis, Simon Rigter, Marc Scholten, ensemble CvA-Sax, Tjako van Schie and Tobias Borsboom

‘Crossing Borders’ is second nature to the saxophone: we are all familiar with the saxophone’s reputation in classical music, jazz, pop and world music. Composers love to make extensive use of the saxophone’s stylistic versatility. Cross the Borders is therefore the theme of the International Saxophone Week 2026. This is reflected in the workshops, all of which aim to offer classical saxophonists a gateway to light music and improvisation.

The concerts also push the boundaries. In the opening concert of this mini-festival, the CvA saxophone class will present a wide range of chamber music styles. Our special guest lecturers will cross many (national) borders in their recitals. Irene Fernández Mena, a teacher at the Seville Conservatoire, will explore the boundaries of various musical styles in her concert with, amongst others, CvA pianist Tjako van Schie, including the French impressionism of Florent Schmitt and solo pieces for soprano saxophone by the Romanian mother and daughter Rotaru. Kenneth Tse, a renowned lecturer at the University of Iowa, will perform music from North and South America and France with pianist Casey Dierlam-Tse.

• 12.00-14.00 and 15.00-18.00h room 5.10
  masterclass by Irene Fernández Mena
• 18.30-20.00h Bernard Haitinkzaal 
  workshop by Simon Rigter 
  Practising Scales

• 12.00-14.00h room 5.10
  masterclass by Irene Fernández Mena
• 15.00-19.00h Bernard Haitinkzaal
  masterclass by Irene Fernández Mena
• 20.15-21.30h Sweelinckzaal
  opening concert by CvA-Sax 
  a wide range of chamber music styles

• 13.30-14.45h room 7.08
  workshop by Marc Scholten 
  Differences between playing jazz and classical sax
• 15.30-19.00h Bernard Haitinkzaal
  masterclass by Kenneth Tse
• 20.15-21.15h Sweelinckzaal
  concert by Irene Fernández Mena
  The French impressionism of Florent Schmitt, solo pieces for soprano saxophone by Rumanian mother and daughter Rotaru and other works

• 9.15-13-15h room 5.10
  masterclass by Kenneth Tse
• 14.00-17.00h Bernard Haitinkzaal
  masterclass by Kenneth Tse, with Tjako van Schie and Tobias Borsboom