Nordic Saxophone Festival: Grand Finale

The epic Grand Finale concert, that focuses on music for large saxophone ensemble. Come and listen to all the festival participants, when they play both original music and transscriptions by composers such as Tchaikovsky, Gustav Holst, Cole, Hartley and Elgar.

About the Festival

The Nordic Saxophone Festival is an annual event at the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, where classical saxophone students and teachers from all over Europe meet and play chamber music together. The results are presented at a series of public concerts.

In 2026, the festival will take place from Saturday, March 28 to Tuesday, March 31 at Musikhuset Aarhus. There will be a total of seven concerts, both in the afternoon and evening, as well as an open workshop and an open seminar. Everyone is very welcome—admission to all events is free. See the programme in the calendar on the Academy’s or Musikhuset’s websites.

For those with a special interest, the instrument shop I. K. Gottfried will visit the festival from Sunday afternoon to Monday noon with an exhibition of saxophones and accessories. This will take place in room 228 at the Academy in Musikhuset.

Broad Repertoire

Each of the seven concerts has its own profile, which together provide a very broad picture of music for saxophone ensembles from many different countries and periods.

The programmes include music by both well-known and lesser-known composers. Works by, among others, Bach, Grieg, Elgar, Arvo Pärt, Carl Nielsen, and Per Nørgård will be performed.

The concert is free, and you can just show up without a ticket. Please come early.