The SOS Junior Saxophone Orchestra is a youth saxophone orchestra which consists of approximately 45 young saxophonists coming from 15 Slovene music schools. Its primary goal is educating young players in orchestral performance and providing a creative environment which additionally motivates young musicians to engage in creating and performing music. Alongside our pedagogic and socializing goals, we at the Sekvoja Cultural Association wish to enable the young to gain as much artistic experience as possible, which is why we often perform with the SOS Junior orchestra. The artistic leader of the Sekvoja Cultural Association is Lev Pupis, soloist and saxophone professor at the Music and Ballet Conservatoire of Ljubljana with the professional team: Jovana Joka as the leader of the SOS Junior orchestra, Weronika Partyka, Joanna Blejwas, Rok Volk, Irena Šmid and Aleš Logar. Organizational and other technical duties fall to Sekvoja president Gregor Zupančič and a team of parents. Along the JAZZ section, another fruit of our carefully planned labour with young musicians is the Saxplode ensemble, an octet of our most experienced orchestra members which has already set out on an independent musical journey. The orchestra performs classical, jazz, and pop scores, and is often accompanied by renowned soloists and conductors, such as Alain Crepin, Philippe Geiss, Oto Vrhovnik, Jan Gričar and others. Notable performances: “SOS Junior 200” Tour, Belgrade Saxperience Festival, Sax Herbst Festival, International Saxophone Meeting Nova Gorica, 2nd AS International Music Festival in Bled, Saxophobia Festival in Bratislava, 3rd AS International Music Festival in Bled.
SOS Junior Saxophone orchestra
Gerald Preinfalk, artistic leader and conductor
Jovana Joka, leader of the orchestra
& guest musicians
Luka Petrovčič, drums (Come out to play-ay, Ona Schoolday, Kyddo)
Dragan Sremec, soprano saxophone, Barry Cockcroft, alto saxophone, Javier Valerio, tenor saxophone, Kenneth Tse, baritone saxophone (Bled, a piece of heaven on earth)
Tia Ivajnšič, soprano saxophone, (mentor: Dejan Prešiček), Miha Meglič, el. guitar, SAXPLODE ensemble (Pasta Concerto)
