Helikon Saxophone Quartet

Biography

Helikon Saxophone Quartet
In 1994, four enthusiastic saxophone students of Arno Bornkamp formed a saxophone quartet under the name Helikon. During their short time together they have already won several prizes in Holland and in Poland.

They attended masterclasses with famous saxophonists Nobuya Sugawa (Japan), Frederick Hemke (USA) and Jean-Marie Londeix (France).

To achieve a higher level of playing, the Helikon Saxophone Quartet looked outside of the tradition of classical saxophone. They were given help by Wolfgang Laufer (cellist Fine Arts Quartet, USA), David Takeno (violist, professor Guildhall, London), Josef Balogh (clarinetist, Hungary) and Gilbert Kalish (pianist, professor New York, USA).

Courses
The Helikon Saxophone Quartet  has attended the "Orlando-Festival" (Kerkrade, Holland) and the "Music and Sound Program" of the Banff-Center for the Arts (Canada).

Repertoire
The repertoire consists mainly of authentic saxophone music (Desenclos, Schmitt, Pierne) and Dutch contemporary music (van Onna, Meyering, de Vries). They also play arrangements preferably arranged by themselves. Two members of the quartet transcribed selections from the opera "Porgy and Bess" by Gershwin for saxophone quartet and singers.