Target Magazine
Organised every 4 years, the Adolphe Sax International Competition is recognised as one of the most prestigious and largest classical saxophone competitions in the
world. The 1st Prize of this 7th edition has been attributed this Saturday 9th November to the Japanese contestant Kenta SAITO.
No fewer than 544 saxophonists sent their application to take part in the competition. After the pre-selection process on video last spring, 94 saxophonists from
19 countries were selected. They came to Dinant to perform in the first round, from 29th October to 2nd November.
Afterwards only 18 remained for the semi-final on 4th and 5th November.
On 5th November, the jury, composed of worldwide famous saxophone players and teachers, selected the 6 laureates who took part in the competition finale, on 8th
and 9th November, in the Collégiale Church of Dinant, Belgium. The purpose of the finale was to rank the 6 laureates in the competition. Each candidate performed
two works. A compulsory work: Noema, commissioned by the Competition by Claude Ledoux. And a concerto, chosen among a list of works, accompanied by
CASCO Phil, the Chamber Orchestra of Belgium, conducted by David Reiland.
All the finalists of the Adolphe Sax International Competition were talented young saxophonists of flawless technique and an impressive virtuosity. The winner,
Saito Kenta from Japan, probably convinced the Jury thanks to his superior musical maturity. He managed to tame Noema, the challenging compulsory work composed by Claude Ledoux, with a personal interpretation combining fluidity and a dexterity, which undoubtedly made the difference.
Saito Kenta as the First Laureate, won a first prize of 9000 euros, an alto saxophone valued at 4500 euros, a Saxicare (a signed sculpture by Félix Roulin), a diploma engraved by Jean Coulon, as well as invitations to gala concerts where the laureate will play as a soloist.
Like the inventor of saxophone Adolphe Saxe, our long time friend Félix Roulin was born in Dinant. We met him and asked him about the inventor Adolphe Sax and how he had lovingly sculpted the trophy Saxicare. With his usual kindness he told us the magical story:
The originality of the saxophone invented by Adolphe Sax lies in its sound similar to the human voice, and its simplicity of play, where the same fingering shifts
from one octave to another. My artist’s eye easily turned its S-shaped form into a saxophone woman. The body-to-body harmony of the jazz saxophonist with his
saxophone makes this obvious. What is more, this form brought unprecedented acoustic qualities for its time. Adolphe Sax was from the town of Dinant, which held
commemorations for the hundredth anniversary of his death in 1894.
As a sculptor also from Dinant, the sponsors and organizing authorities asked me to create a monument to Adolphe Sax in the little square near to our respective
places of birth.
The star of the monument is above all the river Meuse with its distinctive rocks; the panorama of Dinant “right bank” is seen from the “left bank”, which is the bank of my childhood home. From this viewpoint I was able to witness the construction of all the bridges, from bridges spanning inflatable boats, to the building of wooden bridges, then those in metal or concrete. I have used this idea again in monuments.
The “Saxicare” trophy takes the idea of the saxophonewoman, and the idea of metal worked with the lost wax method that created the wealth of Dinant before Charles the Bold gave the inhabitants a lesson by throwing them, tied up together, couples and relatives bound body to body, into the river, burning their town.
The Sax competition committee was founded in the manner of the Queen Elisabeth of Brussels Music Competition for piano, violin and later, singing. The first
competition was in 1984 and reoccurs every four years; it is now the seventh event. For this occasion I have been asked to make the trophies, six for each competition, for the six laureate winners. The object is cast in bronze with the lost wax method, the technique underlying Dinant’s prosperity. a
Dr. Pick Keobandith
Founder and Director, Inspiring Culture Félix Roulin
