After studying saxophone at the Conservatory of Lausanne, Switzerland, where he received in 1994, a concert license (master of arts soloist) Swiss saxophonist established in Greensboro in 2010, Laurent Estoppey, devoted himself mostly to contemporary music, but performs and teaches classic saxophone repertoire and transcriptions of baroque music.

Numerous collaborations with composers have led him to create at least two hundred works. Now his musical activity is divided between written music and improvisation, and it occurs throughout Switzerland, many European countries, but also in Canada, USA, Argentina, Guatemala and South Africa.

He works with the following orchestras: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande Orchestra (from 2008 to the present, conducted by Marek Janowski, Kazuki Yamada…), Lausanne Chamber Orchestra (1998 to the present (Christian Zacharias…) Basel Symphony, UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra (1999 James Levine) Timisoara, Orchestra of the State of Lithuania, Lausanne Sinfonietta, NEC - Chaux-de- Fonds-Contrechamps Geneva, Staatskapelle Weimar (2010, Heinz Holliger)

Estoppey has founded and developed several chamber music groups including: DILEMME (saxophone / piano with Myriam Migani), ST15 (saxophone / piano with Virginie Falquet) DEGRE21 (saxophone / guitar with Antonio Albanese), 1+1 (duo- concept Anne Gillot, recorders), compagnie CH.AU (set of nine musicians) and the 4TENORS (saxophone quartet with Vincent Daoud, Rico Gubler and Lars Mlekusch). A collaboration with saxophonist Dr.Steve Stusek (professor at UNCG) as well as the foundation of COLLAPSS (Collective for Happy Sounds) in Greensboro are his main activities in the United States. Additionally he is regularly invited to play with the saxophone quartet Basel ARTE Quartet and is a member of baBel ensemBle.

 His improvisational collaborations involve meetings and concerts with musicians from all backgrounds. Many groups he has worked with are still alive today, including: HipNoiz51 (DJ, drums, saxophone, clarinet, bass and electronics) BETTY'S QUARTET (two saxophones, two voices Antoine Auberson, Anne-Sylvie Casagrande and Edmée Fleury), YET TRIO (Lingling Yu, pipa and Dragos Tara, doublebass), and Zkrabuj et chou et pâté (saxophone / percussion with LucMüller)

Estoppey as also worked alongside many independant musicians such as Jacques Demierre, Pierre Favre, Pierre Audétat, Malcolm Braff, Urs Leimgruber, Fritz Hauser and Nick Didkovsky.

He is a guest musician of the Russian theatrical troupe Akhe with whom the show "Wet Wedding" was presented in Geneva, Nice, London, Stockholm, and Mexico.

His discography includes thirty recordings

His interest in all contemporary arts has led him to collaborate with many artists in interdisciplinary projects including, among others, projects with Georges Haldas (literature), Olivier Saudan (painting and video), Francis Baudevin Stephan Perrinjaquet, Tatiana Rihs, Claudia Comte, Christopher Cassidy, Samantha DiRosa (visual arts) Heidi Bunting, Christine Cruchon, Brianna Taylor (dance), Gil Pidoux (literature and theater).

As an educator, Estoppey used to teach saxophone from beginners to master students for around twenty years in many music schools in Switzerland. He is regularly invited to lead improvisation workshops for musicians of all levels and all instruments, as well as saxophone, improvisation and contemporary music masterclasses.

He has a real passion to share his love for art and music with children as well as teenagers and adults.

As a composer, Estoppey writes music for concerts, but also sound installation and video art.

His pieces are played in Festival in the USA, Switzerland and Russia.

Estoppey is a reference artist for Italian saxophone makers Rampone-Cazzani

EDUCATION

1994    Master of arts soloist, Lausanne Conservatory (CH) Major teacher Jean-  Georges Koerpe

1993    Master of arts interpretation, Lausanne Conservatory (CH) Major teacher Jean-Georges Koerper

1991    Master of pedagogy, Lausanne Conservatory (CH) Major teachers Jean-Georges Koerper and Michel       Surget

1993-1997   Private saxophone lessons with Daniel Deffayet, Claude Delangle, Alexandre Magnin

Other formation :

Engineering draftsman, CFC (Federal certificate of capacity), Lausanne, 1989

 Grants (selection)

2017 Nominated for the Herp Alpert Award

2013      Guilford County Art Council (project

1997      Fondation Leenaards (CH)

1994       Fondation Ernst Göhner (CH)

Prices (selection)

2000      Nicati Competition for contemporary music, solist, 3rd price

1992      International Saxophone Competition, Arvika, Sweden, Laureate

1992      Swiss National Competition for wind instruments, 1st Price

1992      Léopold-Bellan saxophone competition, Paris, France, 1st Price

TEACHING

Saxophone

2000-2010           Neuchâtel Conservatory (CH), from beginners to graduates

2000-2002           Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana, undergraduate program

1991-2001           Morges Conservatory (CH)

1991-1992           Vevey Conservatory (CH)

1988-1992           Lausanne School of Music (CH)

Director (administration and pedagogy)

2001-2004           Lausanne School of Music

Masterclasses and workshops (selection)

October 2019 Sao Paolo, Campina, SPCCM Festival

March 2014          Neuchâtel (CH) Atelier Musical, saxophone

January 2014      Southampton University (UK) composition

June 2013            Quarna (Italy) Sax Forum.it saxophone

May 2013              Lausanne (CH) Jazz School, contemporary music

Feb 2013               University of west Virginia, saxophone

Feb 2013               University of south Carolina, saxophone

April 2012             Moscow (Russia) Jazz School, improvisation

Nov 2011              Musik Hochschule Luzern (CH) saxophone

Oct 2011                Budapest (Hungary), Liszt Academy, saxophone

Oct 2011                Kecskemet, (Hungary), Kodaly academy, improvisation

Oct 2010                Greensboro, NC, UNCG, MaxMSP programation

2010-2012           Lausanne (CH) Conservatory, improvisation program

Many jurys and adjudications for competitions and exams in Switzerland

2013                        Jury for ISAAC, Columbus State University

2006-2008           President of saxophone@ch, Swiss Saxophonists Association

1998-2006           Vice-president of saxophone@ch, Swiss Saxophonists Association

Associations member

Southeastern Composers league (USA)

North American Saxophone Alliance (USA)

Association Suisse des Musiciens (CH - Swiss Musicians Associations)

Discography

Individual projects

1992      Quatuor Marquis de Saxe Marquis de Saxe Saxophone quartet

                  Music by A.Kovach (*), E.Satie, J.B.Singelée

                  Ed.Gilles Perny, France

1995    Duo Dilemme Jeune morte qui revit with Myriam Migani, piano

            G.Delerue, E.denisov, F.Schmitt, C.Charrière (*)…

1998      Duo Dilemme Nouvelle musique pour saxophone et piano

                  J.A.Lennon, M.Guerandi (*), C.Charrière (*), D.Visvikis (*), M.Nyman

                  Doron Records, Switzerland

1999      Solo …comme une aile…

                  J.C.Risset, C.Charrière (*), L.Estoppey (*), F.Graeff

2003      1+1+Stephan Perrinjaquet disque7plage3

                  with Anne Gillot, recorders and Stephan Perrinjaquet, electronics

2004       Degré 21 N/S with Antonio Albanese, guitar

                  D.Kechley, V.Bond, D.Noon, A.Piazzolla

2005      1+1 Steve Reich / Counterpoints (with Anne Gillot_recorders)

                  vinyl 10’’ Ed.Circuit, Lausanne

2007      1+1 Philip Glass / Piece in a shape of a square_Strung out

                  vinyl 12’’ Ed.Cabinet des Estampes, Geneva

2007      Compagnie CH.AU « Plays Maurizio Guerandi »

2009      1+1 17 / Jacques Demierre

                  Ed.Héros-Limite, Geneva

2011      1+1+Diatribes  152’32’’

                  With Cyril Bondi and d’incise_drums, percussion, objects

                  Tsuku Boshi Records, Paris

2011    Guez Trio  Je suis celui qui je veux être        

                  with Edmée fleury_voice, François Rossi_drums

                  Insubordinations Label

2011     Duo ST 15 Soul Mates with Virginie Falquet, piano

                  Music by D.Milhaud, P.Maurice, V.Cordero(*), C.Charrière(*), P.Grella-Mozejko

                  Label Claves Records, Switzerland

2013     Guez Trio Le lieu, c'est l'horizon sans la mort

                  with Edmée Fleury_voice, François Rossi_ drums / Pier Tardif & Pascal Deleuze

                  Venus d'ailleurs, Gajan, France

2014      SOLO The encounter of the immobile / la rencontre de l'immobile

                  with Tristin Miller, art cover

(*)       premiered by Laurent Estoppey

Collaborations (selection)

1998      American’s millenium Tribute to Adolphe Sax Vol.III , with duo Dilemme

                  Sy Brandon « Conversations »

1999      Edmonton Composers Society Music from the within, with duo Dilemme

                  Gordon G. Nicholson 9 miniatures

2000      Saxophilie_Ensemble of saxophones  Ses 12 couleurs 

2011      17f  Tree of them  électro-pop

2010      Valentin Marti  Le journal de Sisyphe  for saxophone quartet

                  with 4TENORS (L.Mlekusch, R.Gubler, V.Daoud)

                  Portrait Grammont Series

2011      Bertrand Roulet  Démons et merveilles  two solo pieces (*)

Children’s songs (as saxophonist and arranger)

1997    Richard Delavy Dans mon jardin

1998    Richard Delavy Après la pluie le beau temps

1999    Richard Delavy Les gai-lurons

2000    Richard Delavy Extra-ordinaire

2001    Richard Delavy O comme trois pommes

2010    Marie Henchoz Minicroche sauve la planète