CROATIA

Mladen Tarbuk -- A Streetcar Named Desire – link to live performance available on homepage (19:30, Wednesday 11 July, Younger Hall, St Andrews University)

ZAGREB SAXOPHONE QUARTET:
Dragan Sremec -- soprano saxophone
Goran Mercep -- alto saxophone
Sasa Nestorovic -- tenor saxophone
Matjaz Drevensek -- baritone saxophone

I first heard of the Zagreb Saxophone Quartet when working in Zagreb with the Croatian Army Wind Band, giving a concert largely of contemporary music in the main concert hall, televised in front of a near-capacity audience. We played the John Casken Distant Variations, and they were magnificent to work with. I have kept in touch with Dragen ever since.over new repertoire.

Four graduates of the University of Zagreb Music Academy (Croatia) founded the Zagreb Saxophone Quartet, which has been performing with the present members since 1989. The Zagreb Saxophone Quartet are: Dragen Semec, saxophone professor and vice dean at University of Zagreb Music Academy -- soprano saxophone, Goran Mercep, chamber music professor at University of Zagreb Music Academy -- alto saxophone, Sasa Nestrovic, chamber music professor at University of Zagreb Music Academy and director of HRT Big Band -- tenor saxophone, and Matjaz Drevensek, saxophone professor at University of Ljubljana Music Academy (Slovenia) -- baritone saxophone. ZSQ has performed in Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Latvia, Macedonia, Monaco, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, and USA. The Quartet have been soloists with orchestras in Croatia, Slovenia, France, USA, and Hong Kong, and performed at festivals in Berlin, Dubrovnik, Ljubljana, Munich, Novi Sad, Ohrid, Orsay, Paris, Podgorica, Split, Zagreb; also at WSCs in Pesaro, Valencia, Montreal, Minneapolis, and Ljubljana. Numerous Croatian as well as foreign composers have dedicated more than 50 pieces to them. The Quartet has recorded for the HRT, ÖRF, RTL, RTV Slovenia, Radio France, Radio Spain, WDR, and released 13 CDs.

XVI World Saxophone Congress St Andrews (Scotland 2012)