SAXOPHONE SYNCOPATORS

Saxophone Syncopators is a unique saxophone quartet that specializes in performing the authentic musical style of ragtime in arrangements for four saxophones. The arrangements of this music come from the years
1910 - 1920 when saxophone music was expanding in the music scene and becoming a great inspiration for
performers and composers. Saxophone Syncopators play the oldest ragtime and hot jazz from the years
1912 - 1920 in the original arrangements for four saxophones following the footsteps of the saxophone
ensembles from this period such as Six Brown Brothers, Columbia Saxophone Sextette, The Missouri
Entertainers, Joe Thomas Saxotette, Hollis Saxophone Quintet, etc... To achieve the most authentic and accurate sound ,Saxophone Syncopators use original period instruments from the twenties of the last century. Besides their focus on ragtime, they also perform so called classical music that was composed for saxophone quartet in the period of the early 20th century.

Obsadenie Saxophone Syncopators:
Pavol Hoďa - soprano/alto/c-melody saxophone
Frederika Babuliaková - alto saxophone
Ján Gašpárek - tenor saxophone
Ladislav Fanzowitz - baritone saxophone, arrangements

Pavol Hoďa graduated in clarinet at Bratislava Conservatory in 1998. During his studies he won twice 1st place in Slovak Conservatory Competition. He was member of Symphonic Orchestra of Slovak Radio and he cooperated with several jazz orchestras such as Ondřej Havelka & His Melody Makers, B-Side Band Brno, Dixieland Band of Jaromír Hnilička or Gustav Brom Big Band. He was also part of classical orchestras The Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, The Slovak State Philharmonic Kosice, Slovak Sinfonietta, SymphonicOrchestra Karlovy Vary, Adolf Sax Quartet USA. In present he is member of hot jazz orchestra Bratislava Hot Serenaders, swing orchestra Fats Jazz Band and saxophone quartet Saxophone Syncopators where he plays soprano and alto-saxophone.

Ján Gašpárek graduated at Bratislava Conservatory in 2000. He continued in his studies at Academy of Art in Banská Bystrica where he achieved Master degree in 2005. During years 2003 and 2004 he attended international interpretation master classes in Ráckeve Music Castle Festival, Hungary at teachers Jože Kotar, Kohán István and Dittrich Tibor. Among his pedagogic praxis and other solo and chamber activities, he is member of saxophone quartet Saxophone Syncopators in which he plays alto-saxophone.

Frederika Babuliaková graduated in saxophone at Bratislava Conservatory in 2014 with special award "The best graduate of the year". Presently she studies at Academy of Art in Banská Bystrica in class of Alexander Stepanov. In 2014 she won 1st place in Slovak Conservatory Competition and in the same year she had solo concert on prestige Middle-European festival of chamber music in Žilina. She regularly attends international interpretation master classes in Ostrava at teachers Philippe Porteojie and Pawel Gusnar. Among solo and chamber activities she is a member of saxophone quartet Saxophone Syncopators in which she plays baritone-saxophone.

Ladislav Fanzowitz finished his piano studies at the Bratislava State Conservatory in the class of Peter Čerman with the title 'Best Graduate of the year 2000'. He continued his studies at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, the Universitat Fur Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Vienna) and at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava where he finished his doctorate degree in 2010.

He was a finalist and won first prize in several national and inter- national competitions: Marianske Lazne International Chopin Competition, Krakow Nyiregyhazi International Competition, National Conservatory Competition, International Competiti- on Piano Bratislava, J. N. Hummel International Competition, The Slovak Talent of the year 2000 and 2002 etc. He also at- tended several master classes (Jan Wijn, Abbey Simon, Gyorgy Sandor, Marian Lapšansky, Karl Heinz Kammerling, Mikhail Voskressensky and others).

As a soloist he has performed with the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra of the Slovak and Czech Radio, Prague Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Zlin, Philharmonic Orchestra Hradec Kralove, Solistes Europeéns Luxembourg, State Philharmonic Košice, State Chamber Orchestra Zilina, Pressburger Philharmoniker, Slovak Chamber Orchestra, under the conductors Ondrej Lenárd, Vladimír Válek, Friedrich Haider, František Vajnar, Jerzy Swoboda, Svárovský, Tomáš Hanus, Kirk Trevor, Justus Franz, Mário Košik, Jack Martin Händler, Martin Leginus etc. Besides his active solo career, he is also well-liked chamber musician. Ladislav Fanzowitz has made several recordings for labels Diskant, Pavlík Records and Slovak Radio Records.

He has performed in the majority of the European countries and also in Malaysia and the USA.

Ladislav Fanzowitz is bandleader of swing orchestra Fats Jazz Band and saxophone quartet Saxophone Syncopators.