

INTERVIEW

„Music has always been a big part of my life. I grew up with music. As for many in my homeland, it all began with the obligatory recorder lessons (laughs). But for me it really was about fun and because of that period in my life – five years after all! – I got in touch with baroque music that has fascinated me ever since.
The idea of the saxophone came up after a concert at the school of music – I heard this instrument and I instantly fell in love. I was filled with enthusiasm. So it was love at the first sound (laughs).
What touches me the most? (thinks about it): the warm sound, the distinct timbres and facets, the freedom in sound design. I think the sound somehow fits to every period of style. Although it has only been invented at the end of the 19th century. I just love playing classical music from the Renaissance to the modern age, and even to contemporary music, on the saxophone.
Except for Jazz (laughs). Isn’t that funny? Most people associate the saxophone with jazz and legendary interpreters like Paul Desmond or Stan Getz. I love jazz music and these musicians, admire their improvisation and also take one sound idea and timbre or another into my repertoire.
But home for me is the world of classical music."
BIO
Eva Kotar is a slovenian saxophonist, who studied classical saxophone under the guidance of Prof. Daniel Gauthier at the HfMT Cologne in the Bachelor of Music and in the Master of Music as well as chamber music under the guidance of Prof. Han-An Liu. In 2022, she began the studies “Master spécialisé“ at the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles in the class of Professor Vincent David. Within the ERASMUS exchange program, she studied at the CNSM Paris under the guidance of Prof. Claude Delangle.
In 2018, Eva Kotar was an award winner of the “International Shining Stars” competition in New York and presented her as a soloist in the Carnegie Hall. In 2020 she was awarded 1.prize at the University competition at the HfMT Cologne and at the “Lions Musikpreis” and in 2021 became a finalist at the European finals of the “Lions Musikpreis” in Greece.
Eva was a recipient of one of the most prestigious scholarships in Germany, Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes. She also received the Werner Richard – Dr. Carl Dörken Stiftung scholarship and was included in the Yehudi Menuhin-Live Music Now development program.
In 2017, she co-founded the Eternum Saxophone Quartet, which performs across Germany in esteemed cultural venues such as the Konzerthaus Berlin, the Beethovenhaus Bonn, the Kölner Philharmonie, the Duisburg Philharmonie, and the Krönungssaal Aachen. In 2020, they were featured in the chamber music series “Best of NRW”, and in 2023, they released their debut album, Voyages, under the GENUIN label.
MEDIA
CONTACT
