Six International Finalists Set for 12th Solo Sax Competition at Andorra Sax Fest
Competitors from Hungary, Spain, Russia, and Japan vie for top honors Saturday at 3 p.m. in Andorra la Vella, following record 130 entrants from 37 nations.
Key Points
- Six finalists from Hungary, Spain, Russia, Japan compete in 12th Solo Sax Competition at Andorra Sax Fest Saturday 3 p.m.
- Advanced from 18 semifinalists and record 130 entrants from 37 nations.
- Jury chaired by Lars Mlekusch selected winners after mandatory Sonatine performance.
- Festival features ONCA concert and Sax Awards, hailed as top global saxophone event.
Six international finalists from Hungary, Spain, Russia, and Japan will compete Saturday in the final of the 12th Solo Sax Competition, part of the 13th Andorra Sax Fest.
The competitors are Kristóf Havasi from Hungary, Juan David Toro Martín and Javier Janeiro Sánchez from Spain, Sofiia Petrash and Arsenii Budanov from Russia, and Takaya Minami from Japan. The public session starts at 3 p.m. at the Centre de Congressos in Andorra la Vella, with the winner revealed that evening at 8 p.m. during the closing gala, after the fourth Sax Awards ceremony.
These six advanced Thursday from 18 semifinalists representing 13 nationalities. Each performed the mandatory *Sonatine* by Claude Pascal alongside a free-choice piece. A 12-member jury chaired by Lars Mlekusch—including Mikhail Kazakov, Jan Gricar, and Mariano García—made the selection.
The first round, held March 28-31, drew 129 entrants who played required works *Brillance* by Ida Gotkovsky and *Bibioles* by Marc Monnet.
Friday evening features a key event at 9 p.m.: a concert by the Orquestra Nacional Clàssica d’Andorra (ONCA) directed by Àlex Sansó. Concertino violinist Gabriel Coll highlighted the demands of non-standard repertoire, including French pieces and a Vivaldi work adapted for saxophone. The ensemble includes about 20 musicians, up to six saxophonists as soloists, harpsichord, and percussion. Coll noted the challenges of wind-friendly keys for strings and past preparations squeezed into just a couple of days, praising the orchestra's adaptability.
Festival director Efrem Roca described the event as among the world's top saxophone competitions, drawing talent from places like China, Japan, Colombia, and Mexico. A victory offers lasting international prestige, he added. Colombian participant Juan Camilo Trujillo called it a significant challenge and privilege. Mexico's Santiago Ortiz Lira viewed it as an essential milestone in classical saxophone careers.
This edition set records with 130 professionals and 60 youths from 37 nationalities over nearly a week at the Centre de Congressos.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources:
- ARA•
El Centre de Congressos acull el penúltim dia del Sax Fest amb un concert de l’ONCA i una vintena de músics
- Diari d'Andorra•
El Centre de Congressos acull el penúltim dia del Sax Fest amb un concert de l’ONCA
- Diari d'Andorra•
Un hongarès, dos espanyols, dos russos i un japonès passen a la final del Solo Sax Competition 2026
- Altaveu•
Sis finalistes internacionals competiran pel Solo Sax Competition 2026
- Altaveu•
El Sax Fest bufa fort a tot el món
- Diari d'Andorra•
18 semifinalistes passen a la segona fase del Solo Sax Competition