Saxophone festival blows into town

Students from Cardiff will perform at the event

Hundreds of saxophonists from across the world have been gathering at a two-day musical event in Cardiff.

The seventh British Saxophone Congress took place at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama over the weekend.

It's a chance to witness the versatility of the instrument, with a vast range of new, traditional and classical styles and some of the world's top players

College professor Gerard McChrystal

It was the first time the congress, which has been going for 14 years, had been in Wales.

Audiences heard recitals from international saxophonists, as well as by British quartets, soloists and even orchestras of saxophones.

"It is a Mecca for saxophone enthusiasts," said Gerard McChrystal, the royal college's saxophone professor before the event.

"It's a chance to witness the versatility of the instrument, with a vast range of new, traditional and classical styles and some of the world's top players."

Mr McChrystal was responsible for bringing the festival to Cardiff after he persuaded the Clarinet and Saxophone Society (Cass) to consider the city as a venue.

A series of master classes and lectures took place during the weekend, as well as a gala concert on Saturday evening,

Soloists included some of the biggest players in the world such as the head of the Professor Paris Conservatoire, Claude Delangle and Ottis Murphy from the University of Indiana.

The final of Cass' annual youth competition was also held.

Excited students

Four first-year students from the royal college performed at the event, even though they had only enrolled a few weeks before.

Saxophone student Lauren Hamer: 'Big event'

One of the students, 18-year-old Lauren Hamer from Cardiff, said she was delighted to be involved.

"It is a bit of a shock really," she said.

Lauren added that it was an exciting time to be in the department.

The four students more than doubled the number of saxophonists in the college, which is building new facilities and was recently awarded a royal prefix.