Álvaro Collao León

Saxophone (Classical Music)

Artistic & Pedagogical Education

  • 2023 Master's degree in Composition and Arranging at the Private Universität für Musik und Kunst der Stadt Wien. Graduated with honors
  • 2015-2018 Master of Arts & Education at the Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität der Stadt Wien. Graduation: Passed with excellent success
  • 2013-2016 Master of Arts at the Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität der Stadt Wien. Graduation: Passed with excellent success
  • 2010-2012 Diploma in Contemporary Music, Conservatoire de Bordeaux Jaques Thibaud, France. Graduation: With excellent success
  • 2003-2010 Bachelor of Art in Music and Performance, University of Chile
  • 2002-2004 Course in Improvised Music, Big Band & Jazz with Martin Joseph, University of Chile

Teaching Experience 

  • Since 2021 lecturer for saxophone-modern playing techniques at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (Joseph Haydn Institute for Chamber Music and New Music)
  • Since 2021 Lecturer at the Friedrich Gulda School of Music 

Concerts & Performances

  • Since 01/2020 guest saxophonist with Schallfeld Ensemble (AT) 
  • Since 01/2018 guest saxophonist with Platypus Ensemble (AT) 
  • Since 01/2016 guest saxophonist with ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna (AT) 
  • Since 01/2016 guest saxophonist with Stadttheater Klagenfurt (AT) 
  • Since 10/2016 guest saxophonist with Tonkünstler-Orchester (AT)
  • Since 10/2016 guest saxophonist with KlangForum Vienna (AT)
  • Since 01/2015 guest saxophonist with PHACE Ensemble Vienna (AT)
  • Since 01/2013 guest saxophonist with the Volksoper Orchestra Vienna (AT)

Prizes and awards

Winner of:  

  • Pan American Classic Saxophone Competition in Mexico City
  • Vienna Fidelio Competition in 2012 and 2014 
  • Osaka International Competition in 2015. 

Received: 

  • Hyogo Governor Award
  • the Vienna Performing Award 
  • "Also Award" of the magazine The Sax 
  • Michigan M-Prize Competition 2017 

Discography

  • 17/2021 Schallfeld ensemble, Theater Im Palais STAGE, Impuls fest Graz, music with Pierluigi Billone
  • 07/2019 "The tales they told us" by Reider Collao duo
  • 03/2019 Spotlights CD production by AVIDO DUO
  • 06/ 2018 "Keep playing CD" a production by Alvaro Collao León (recording of own compositions)
  • 09/2017 PHACE ensemble ORF
  • 01/2016 DVD "Sax Voyage" FIVE SAX
  • 2015 CD At the movies FIVE SAX

Miscellaneous 

  • Collaboration with renowned composers such as Friedrich Cerha, Georg Friedrich Haas, Hannes Kerschbaumer, Peter Eötvös, Olga Neuwirth, Beat Furrer, Francois Sarhan, Gerhard E. Winkler, Simon Pironkoff, Katharina Klement, Georges Aperghis, Miguel Farias, Chaya Czernowin, Peter Erskine, Mauro Hertig, Alexander Stankovski, Jorge Sánchez-Chiong, Leo Brouwer, Daniel Osorio, Pierluigi Billone and many other personalities
  • Performances at: Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Wiener Konzerthaus, the Wiener Musikverein, the Mozarteum Großer Saal in Salzburg, the Porgy and Bess in Vienna, the National Concert Hall in Taipei, the Gasteig Concert Hall in Munich, the Katowice Music Academy, the Bibliothèque Mériadeck in France, the Teatro del Lago and Corpartes in Chile. Álvaro has also performed at renowned festivals such as the Allegro Vivo Chamber Music Festival, Wien Modern, Salzurg biennale, Wiener Festwochen, Klangspuren Schwaz, Vienna-SaxFest, Cervatino weeks of music from Guanajuato-Mexico, Aspekte Festival Salzburg, Bludenzer Tage zeitgemäßer Musik, International Festival at the UNAM in Mexico City, Ensems Festival, Bregenzer Festspiele, Transart. 
  • Activities in ensembles: ÖENM Österreich Ensemble für Neue Musik, Orchester Volkoper Wien, PHACE Ensemble, Klangforum Wien, Tonkünstler Orchester, Wiener Symphoniker, Kärntner Sinfonieorchester, Vienna Saxophonic Orchestra, Avido Duo, Reider-Collao and FIVE SAX. 
  • Selmer Paris and D'Addario artist