Fabio CESARE

Fabio Cesare – Saxophonist and Composer

 
Fabio Cesare is a saxophonist and composer who has built his musical journey with great determination and passion.

Born in 1995, he graduated in 2016 with the highest honors in saxophone from the Conservatorio "Nicola Sala" of Benevento, under Maestro Paolo Rigliari. He then continued his studies in France, specializing in the solo repertoire at the Conservatoire de Strasbourg with Philippe Geiss, where he received the distinction "Très bien avec félicitations du jury". In 2020, he obtained a Master in Chamber Music at the Haute École des Arts du Rhin, an experience that enriched his artistic career with the Avena Quartet and nurtured his passion for composition. At the same time, he deepened his jazz knowledge under Maestro Michael Alizon.

Training with the greatest masters of the saxophone

Throughout his career, he has refined his playing with great saxophonists such as:
➤ Federico Mondelci, Mario Marzi, Arno Bornkamp, Nobuya Sugawa, Vincent David, Jean-Denis Michat, Philippe Geiss, Masataka Hirano, Joonatan Rautiola, Jean-Pierre Caens, Derek Brown, Baptiste Herbin.

Awards and distinctions

Winner of 14 national and international prizes, Fabio Cesare has distinguished himself both as a soloist and in chamber music. Among his most recent awards:

 
➤ Prix d’honneur – Léopold Bellan Competition (Paris)

 
➤ Prix de la Ville de Boulogne-Billancourt & APEC Special Prize – Chamber Music Interpretation Competition of the 20th and 21st Centuries (Paris)

 
➤ First Prize in Chamber Music & Kazuo Tomioka Special Prize – International Saxophone Competition of Kurashiki (Japan)

 
➤ Second Prize & Audience Prize – Gaetano Zinetti International Music Competition (Verona)

Stage career and collaborations

His concert activity has led him to perform in prestigious festivals and theaters across Italy, France, Germany, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Luxembourg. Notable performances include:

 
➤ Teatro di San Carlo (Naples)

 
➤ Festival Radio France Occitanie Montpellier

 
➤ Mozart Festival (Pravets, Bulgaria)

 
➤ World Saxophone Congress (Croatia)

 
➤ Philharmonie du Luxembourg

 
➤ European Parliament (Strasbourg)

Creation and world premieres

Fabio Cesare has premiered numerous contemporary works, including:

 
➤ Quintet for alto saxophone and string quartet – Gilles Arcens

 
➤ Massar – Jean-Charles Richard (dedicated to the Avena Quartet)

 
➤ Stabat Mater – Gaetano Panariello (for the Airang Ensemble and the Coro della Pietà dei Turchini, Naples)

Orchestral engagements

Since 2015, he has collaborated regularly with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Benevento and since 2017 with the Orchestra of the Teatro San Carlo of Naples. He has performed under renowned conductors such as:

 
➤ Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Chailly, Antonio Pappano, Daniel Oren, Juraj Valčuha, Timothy Brock, Vello Pähn, Francesco Ivan Ciampa, Paul Connelly, Elio Boncompagni, Alberto Nanetti, Valerio Galli.

Discography and upcoming projects

Fabio Cesare has recorded:
➤ Massar (2023) – with the Avena Quartet (Indésens label)

 
➤ Libellula (release July 2025) – with Klarthe (album of his own compositions)

He is also a founding member of ProgettOpera, an innovative chamber ensemble of six saxophonists and one percussionist, reimagining Puccini operas.

 
➤ In August 2025, they will record their first album with Da Vinci Records, dedicated to Puccini’s Tosca.

A recognized pedagogue

Alongside his performance career, Fabio Cesare has extensive teaching experience:

 
➤ Since 2015 – assistant to Maestro Paolo Rigliari at the Conservatorio "Nicola Sala" (Benevento)

 
➤ Masterclasses at Conservatoire of Gap (France), Harare International School (Zimbabwe), North-West University School of Music (South Africa), Conservatoire of Nancy (France)

 
➤ Teaching experience at the Leonardo Da Vinci Deutsch-Italienische Schule (Munich) and other institutions in France

 
➤ Since 2025 – Professor of Saxophone at the Conservatorio Fausto Torrefranca (Vibo Valentia, Italy)

Distinctions and partnerships

➤ Selmer Artist

 
➤ JLV Sound Paris ambassador