Andreas van Zoelen

Danzas Fantásticas

Andreas van Zoelen (* 1978) is a saxophonist and composer of Dutch/Moravian descent. He studied conducting and saxophone at the Brabants Conservatorium in the Netherlands, with Jean Pennings. He started his composing career as an autodidact and , after that he enjoyed lessons with Alexandre Hrisanide and Jan van Dijk. In 2018, to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the Raschèr Saxophone Academy in Germany, van Zoelen composed the 'Danzas Fantásticas' for saxophone orchestra. It was written while Andreas was travelling through Spain for master classes and concerts in Galicia, a part of Spain that he visited quite a few times and that has got a special place in his heart. With in his mind the wind band of the 'Conservatorio Manuel Quiroga in Pontevedra' (Spain) he adapted the piece for a Symphonic Band and dedicated it to his good friend and conductor José Perez Arias. 'Danzas Fantásticas' is a composition written in three consecutive movements: the 'Danza con Velo' (Dance with a Vail), 'Danza Morava' (Dance from Moravia), and 'Danza Mecánica' (Mechanic Dance).