Sergio YÁNEZ

Sergio YÁNEZ

Spain - organiser of the 19th World Saxophone Congress in 2023.

Born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, he began his studies at the age of 16 at the Professional Conservatory of Music of Las Palmas de G.C. with the specialized professor, D. Esteban Ponce. In 1999, he obtained the title of saxophone professor with Honors and the Professional Degree Honor Award, continuing his higher education at the Superior Conservatory of Music of Las Palmas de G.C.

He holds a degree in Musicology from the Superior Conservatory of Music of the Canary Islands, a Master’s Degree in Cultural Management from the Open University of Catalonia, and a Higher Technician in Audiovisual and Entertainment Production. He serves as the Artistic Director of the GRAN CANARIA SAX FESTIVAL (the only saxophone-focused festival organized in the Canary Islands).

He has attended masterclasses with professors such as Claude Delangle (Professor at the National Superior Conservatory of Paris), Arno Bornkamp (Professor at the Amsterdam Superior Conservatory), Pedro Iturralde (Saxophone Chair at the Madrid Superior Conservatory), Francisco Martínez, Fabrice Moretti, Jean-Ives Formeau, Vicent David, Julien Petit, Antonio Felipe Beliján, Juan Manuel Jiménez, Josetxo Silguero, and the Habanera Quartet, as well as saxophonists Fabricio Mancuso, Gilles Tressos, Christian Wirth, and Sylvain Malezieux.

He has participated in international congresses and festivals such as the World Saxophone Congress in St Andrews 2012 in Scotland, Touquet International Music Masters in 2013, Saxopen World Saxophone Congress 2015 in France, and the 1st European Saxophone Congress in Ciudad Real 2014.

He has worked with conductors such as Juanjo Mena, Josep Pons, Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez, Álvaro Albiach, Pablo González, Carlos Kalmar, Peter Etvos, Vasili Petrenko, Jesús López Cóbos, Jordi Bernácer, Sanz-Espert, etc.

A member of the Atlántico Saxophone Quartet, he has won various awards in the field of chamber music at regional, national, and international levels, such as the CajaCanarias Chamber Music Competition Award in Tenerife (2003 and 2007), the UFAM Competition Award (Paris), and the Joseph Mirabent y Magrans Award in Sitges.

In 2009, he debuted the album “Atlántico, Saxophone Quartet” with the same ensemble, embarking on a concert tour across Spain and abroad (United Kingdom, France, England, Belgium).

In his teaching career, he has been a professor at the Professional Conservatory of Music of Las Palmas de G.C., a professor at the Superior Conservatory of Music of the Canary Islands, and has collaborated as a Solo Saxophonist with the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra and the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Municipal Symphonic Band.

He has expanded his musical training with courses in musical direction and composition with conductors such as José Rafael Pascual Vilaplana, Enrique García Asencio, Jason Nobel, André Waignein, Felix Hauxwirth, Alex Schilling, Ignacio García Vidal, Andrés Valero, etc.

Since 2005, he has been the Solo Saxophonist of the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Municipal Music Band and a professor at the Professional Conservatory of Music of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.