ABOUT
​
Duo SIGNAL
​​
"Duo Signal is a paramount example of commitment to the development of new repertoire. Their mastery in performing complex hybrid sounds through instrumental fusion deeply impressed the jury." — Jury of Concours Nicati 2023
​
Founded in 2019 in Basel, Switzerland, Duo Signal is a chamber music ensemble dedicated to the creation and dissemination of contemporary repertoire. The duo, formed by trombonist Adrián Albaladejo and saxophonist Alejandro Oliván, brings together two musicians with extensive professional careers, having performed at some of the most prominent contemporary music festivals worldwide. In 2023, Duo Signal was awarded the Second Prize at the prestigious Swiss contemporary music competition, Concours Nicati 2023.
​
Since its inception, Duo Signal has been actively involved in fostering the creation of new works. In addition to collaborating with selected composers, the duo organizes an annual Call for Scores, which has led to the commissioning of six new pieces to date. This initiative has also allowed them to discover and promote emerging talents in the field of contemporary music. Duo Signal has commissioned and premiered works by renowned composers, including Santiago Díez Fischer, Nuño Fernández Ezquerra, Jon Yu, Jaehyuck Choi, Kevin Juillerat, Emre Eröz, Dativo Tobarra, Nicolas Roulive, Fernando Manassero, Mioko Yokoyama, Luis Codera Puzo, and Hunjoo Jung. Upcoming commissions include pieces by Alfred Jiménez Romanenko and Claudia Jane Scroccaro.
​
Since 2020, Duo Signal has curated its own annual concert seasons in major Swiss cities, as well as participated in renowned festivals and concert series, such as Potries Music Fest (Spain), Klexos LAB (Spain), Unerhörte Musik (Germany), and Konzerte am Ausserberg (Switzerland). Every two years, the duo expands its instrumentation through the Signal+ project, collaborating with outstanding musicians from the contemporary music scene. Past collaborators include Alexander GabryÅ›, Kirill Zvegintsov, Jürg Henneberger, and the saxophone class of Marcus Weiss. Future collaborations feature soprano Nora Bertog and guitarist Francesco Palmieri, among others.
​
Duo Signal is deeply committed to supporting the professional development of performers and composers. Alongside their performance activities, they have developed several educational projects, including Signals, a series of interviews with composers to provide insight into their creative processes and collaborations. They also offer masterclasses and workshops on advanced techniques for saxophone and trombone, and have collaborated with institutions such as the Conservatorio Superior de Castilla-La Mancha, where they guided composers through all stages of creating a new work, from composition to performance. Both members of Duo Signal are active educators, offering individual masterclasses and teaching at conservatories.
​
Duo Signal’s performances are designed to engage the inquisitive ear, exploring the sonic possibilities of their instruments and the performance space. Their repertoire ranges from purely instrumental works to pieces incorporating audiovisual elements
​ALEJANDRO OLIVAN
​
Alejandro Oliván is a Spanish saxophonist mainly specialized in the repertoire of classical and contemporary music. For him, the opportunity to work with composers and be part of the creative process of new music is an indispensable ingredient in his career. This passion for being part of the development of contemporary music has led him to perform more than 20 premieres and to work with young and renowned composers such as Georges Aperghis, Peter Eötvös, Simon Steen Andersen, Yahir Klartag, Nadir Vassena, Alberto Arroyo, Tobias Krebs, Volker Heyn, Germán Toro Pérez, Florian Bogner, Marcelo F. Lazcano or Bethany Younge among others. As a performer, he has given concerts in countries like United States, Colombia, Canada, Italy, France, Spain, Austria, Germany or Switzerland.
​
Alejandro, began his musical studies specializing in saxophone at the "Conservatorio Profesional de Música de Huesca" with David Ruiz. During 2010 and 2014 he studied at the "Conservatorio Superior de Música de Castilla y León" under the tutorship of Andrés Gomis. In 2014 he is admitted in the Hochschule für Musik Basel with the prestigious performer and teacher Marcus Weiss to pursue a Master in Performance which he finishes in 2016 with the highest qualifications. In 2018 she obtained a Master's degree in Music Pedagogy at the same university.
​
During his musical career he has been awarded numerous times in national and international competitions. Among his achievements we can highlight the 1st prize in the competition Basler Orchester Gesellschaft (CH), the 2nd prize in the Kiefer Hablitzel Music Competition (CH), the 2nd prize at the 1st International Saxophone Competition Exigentia (IT) or the 2nd prize at the 11eme Concours du Jura (CH). He has also received scholarships from different foundations such as Lyra Stiftung, Förberg-Schneider Stiftung, Doms Stiftung or Melinda Esterhazy Stiftung.
​
Alejandro has collaborated with important ensembles and orchestras including the Kammerorchester Basel (CH), ORCAM (ES), Lucerne Festival Academy (CH), Ensemble Collegium Novum Zürich (CH), Ensemble Aventure (DE), Ensemble Lemniscate (CH), Ensemble Zone Expérimentale (CH) or the Swiss Youth Orchestra (CH). He has also collaborated with some of the most prestigious conductors of the moment such as Simon Rattle, Peter Eötvös, Emilio Pomárico or Matthias Pintscher among others. Alejandro has participated in important contemporary music festivals like Darmstädter Ferienkurse (DE), Zeit Räume Basel (CH), Tage Neuer Musik Weimar (DE), Festival Impuls (AT), Festival Rümlingen (CH), Outear Series at Experimental Sound Studio in Chicago (US), Null Point Series Buffalo (US), No hay banda series in Montreal (CA), Rainy days in Luxembourg (LU) or Early Night Concerts in Lugano (CH).
As a great enthusiast of musical pedagogy, he has taught at various conservatories and universities such as the Manhattan School of Music, Longy School of Music Boston, “Conservatorio Superior de Granada”, “Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio”, “Conservatorio Superior de Música de Albacete”, University of Medellín (Colombia), University of Cali (Colombia) or the “Conservatorio Superior de Castilla y León”.
​
From his interest in new music, he is a member of Duo Signal, Fx Kollektiv and Gyre ensemble. As a member of these groups, he has the opportunity to collaborate with young composers from different parts of the world developing new repertoire for these ensembles.
​
He is currently assistant professor of saxophone at the Hochschule für Musik Basel in the class of Professor Marcus Weiss.
ADRIÁN ALBALADEJO DÍAZ
​
Trombonist and improviser specializing in chamber classical-contemporary and experimental music. Born in 1993 in Alicante, Adrián has been based in Basel, Switzerland, since 2015. He is a member of the ensembles Duo Signal, KlangLab Ensemble, and Ensemble Ö!, and regularly collaborates with the Kammerorchester Basel and Opernhaus Zürich. Additionally, he is part of the association Konzerte am Ausserberg, where he contributes to curating the annual concert season.
Adrián has worked closely with renowned composers such as Stefano Gervasoni, Salvatore Sciarrino, Sofia Gubaidulina, Franck Bedrossian, Peter Ablinger, Vinko Globokar, Heinz Holliger, Nuño Fernández Ezquerra, Hunjoo Jung and Jon Yu. He has also collaborated with distinguished musicians, conductors, and institutions, including Pierre Bleuse, Peter Rundel, Divertimento Ensemble, Philippe Herreweghe, Simeon Galduf, Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Kirill Zvegintsov, Carlos Mena, the Bavarian Radio Choir, Il Giardino Armonico, and Ircam.
Throughout his career, he has premiered over 100 compositions at prestigious international festivals such as the Lucerne Festival, Festival Rümlingen, Warsaw Autumn, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Ensems, Gaudeamus Muziekweek, Klangspuren Schwaz, Impuls, The Munich Biennale, Unerhörte Musik, and Festival ManiFeste.
His awards include the Anna Riera Foundation Prize (2013), the second prize at the Concours Juventudes Musicales de España (2013), and the second prize at the Concours Suisse de Musique Contemporaine Nicati (2023).
Adrián studied at the Hochschule für Musik Basel with Mike Svoboda. He began his training with José Antonio Mira and Pep Burguera and completed his Bachelor’s degree in Barcelona (ESMUC) under the guidance of Pablo Fernández.
