🎷 About Álvaro

Álvaro Rodríguez Cabezas is a Spanish saxophonist based in Basel, Switzerland. He is passionate about chamber music and contemporary repertoire, and his work reflects a deep commitment to both musical tradition and innovation. Through a creative and flexible approach, he explores the saxophone’s possibilities in a wide range of styles, from baroque transcriptions to newly commissioned works.

As a performer, Álvaro brings together technical excellence and artistic expression. His collaborations with composers and ensembles place him at the forefront of the current European chamber music scene.

🎓 Musical Education and Artistic Development

Álvaro began his studies at the Centro Superior Katarina Gurska (CSKG) in Madrid, where he developed his interest in chamber music. Later, he continued his training at the Musik-Akademie Basel, one of the most prestigious music institutions in Europe. There, he studies with renowned teachers such as Pedro Pablo Cámara, Marcus Weiss, Anton Kernjak, and Claudio Martínez-Mehner. 

In addition to his main studies, Álvaro has received artistic guidance from international figures such as:

• Members of the Cuarteto Casals
• Jonathan Brown
• Cibrán Sierra (Cuarteto Quiroga)
• Sergio Azzolini
• Leila Schayegh
• Angelika Merkle
• Dénes Várjon,
• Patrick Judt

This broad musical environment has helped him shape his personal and distinctive voice as a saxophonist.

🎼 Performance Highlights

Álvaro has performed in numerous festivals and prestigious venues across Europe. These appearances reflect his growing international presence as a chamber musician and soloist. Some of his recent highlights include:

• Stadtcasino Basel (Switzerland)
• ICMC Weikersheim (Germany)
• Toscana Saal, Würzburg (Germany)
• Il Cenacolo di Santa Croce, Florence (Italy)
• Espace Fleuret, CNSMD Paris (France)

🤝 Projects and Collaborations

Álvaro is a founding member of the A-Delta Trio, a contemporary saxophone ensemble known for its innovative programming. The trio works on historical transcriptions as well as new compositions. In 2024, they premiered:

• A trio for saxophones by Eli Korman
• A commissioned piece by Guiomar Ortiz in the final of the JM Spain Chamber Music Competition

They will soon perform a new work by Benjamin Attahir, further enriching the saxophone trio repertoire.

He is also an active member of the ensemble Prochain Arrêt, with whom he recently recorded an album featuring music entirely by Mozart. This recording was awarded the prestigious “Melómano de Oro” distinction by the Spanish classical music magazine Melómano in September 2023.

These diverse projects showcase Álvaro’s versatility, as well as his dedication to both classical heritage and contemporary creation.

🏆 Awards

Álvaro Rodríguez Cabezas has received several recognitions throughout his career. Among them:

• Finalist in the 2024 JM Spain Chamber Music Competition
• Award for Best Performance of a Post‑1945 Work, Arnuero International Chamber Music Competition (Spain)
• First Prize, Musikwettbewerb Dienemann Stiftung, Lucerne, Switzerland, 2024
• Schlusskonzerte 2023 Hochschule für Musik
• CSKG Soloists Award
• CSKG Foundation Artistic Mention Scholarship
• Extraordinary Music Prize of the Community of Madrid

These achievements highlight both his interpretative skill and commitment to contemporary music.