Registration Deadline August 1, 2026
SAX
FESTIVAL 2026
1st Edition
Ambient’Azioni Musicali Sax Festival is a new international project entirely dedicated to the saxophone, born within the artistic and educational experience of the MaximaEntropia Cultural Association.
After years of educational activities, international masterclasses, and musical projects involving students from over 20 countries worldwide, the first edition of a festival exclusively dedicated to the saxophone and advanced musical training is born in 2026. Immersed in the mountain landscape of Abruzzo, in the municipality of Capistrello, the festival aims to create a unique artistic environment where training, performance, nature, and cultural exchange become part of the same experience.
Alessandro Malagnino
Italian saxophonist active as a soloist and chamber musician, he regularly performs in major European concert venues, also collaborating with contemporary composers.
Mikhail_Kazarov
Russian saxophonist internationally recognized for his distinctive sound and for his concert and teaching activities in international festivals and masterclasses.
The Origins of the Project
Ambient’Azioni Musicali was born in 2010 with the idea of bringing high-level musical activities outside traditional large cultural centers. Over the years, the project has grown constantly, transforming into an important international educational experience that has involved hundreds of students from all over Europe and numerous non-European countries. The Sax Festival represents the natural evolution of this journey: a project entirely dedicated to the world of the contemporary saxophone and the dialogue between different interpretative traditions. The festival will take place in Capistrello (AQ), in the heart of Abruzzo. The surrounding natural landscape becomes an integral part of the artistic experience, offering participants an environment dedicated to concentration, creativity, and cultural exchange.
The 2026 Edition
The first edition of Ambient'Azioni Musicali Sax Festival will focus on the meeting between two important saxophone schools: • The French School • The Russian School Through lessons, concerts, and moments of artistic comparison, students will have the opportunity to deepen different approaches to sound, technique, interpretation, and the construction of their own musical identity. For three days, Capistrello will become an international meeting point for young saxophonists and musicians.
Educational Philosophy
The festival is born from the idea that musical training should be immersive, human, and artistically stimulating. The goal is not only technical perfection, but also the development of: • artistic awareness • personal sound identity • interpretative maturity • capacity for cultural and musical comparison Lessons will be open to participants to encourage interaction and sharing of the educational experience.
Festival Activities
Individual Lessons
Each participant will have an individual lesson with each professor.
Group Lessons
Sessions dedicated to interpretation, sound research, and performance practice.
Concerts
Selected students will have the opportunity to perform publicly during the festival and to attend a final concert held by the guest professors.
Study Packages
Sax Festival Participation Fee
250€
Participation Fee as an Auditor
100€
Accompanist Pianists
With the aim of offering a 360° artistic experience, students will have at their disposal an expert accompanist pianist who will support them during two instrument lessons and during rehearsals for concert preparation. The accompanist pianist will be Massimiliano Scatena, a musician trained at the “A. Casella” Conservatory in L'Aquila, the Eesti Muusikaakadeemia in Tallinn, and the “Liszt Ferenc” Academy in Budapest. Scatena specialized with masters such as Aldo Ciccolini and Angela Hewitt and is the winner of numerous competitions. His repertoire ranges from Bach to contemporary music, and he has collaborated with prominent artists and orchestras such as Alessandro Carbonare and the Ensemble Modern Frankfurt. In addition to his concert activity, Scatena dedicates himself to teaching and is the founder of the “Ambient Azioni Musicali” Summer Campus.
Partnership
Maxima Entropia thrives through dialogue with organizations that share our commitment to quality, innovation, and the advancement of musical research. Collaborations with technical partners provide vital support to the association's artistic, educational, and performance initiatives, creating tangible opportunities for musicians, students, and audiences alike.
Vandoren Italia
Acoustic Excellence & Education
The collaboration with Vandoren Italia stems from a shared vision: to promote artistic excellence through premium instruments, sound research, and the training of the next generation of musicians.
For over a century, Vandoren has been an international benchmark in the production of reeds, mouthpieces, and accessories for wind instruments. Its steadfast commitment to research and development perfectly mirrors the values of Maxima Entropia, which places artistic growth, experimentation, and the cultivation of a conscious musical identity at the heart of its mission.
Through this partnership, Vandoren Italia supports an environment where young performers and professionals can exchange ideas, refine their expressive language, and deepen the connection between technical mastery, tonal quality, and musical interpretation.
JLV Sound Paris
Technological Innovation & Sonic Identity
Technological innovation applied to music is a defining element of the artistic path championed by Maxima Entropia. Consequently, the collaboration with JLV Sound represents a natural harmony of purpose, built upon a continuous search for new expressive possibilities.
Renowned for its cutting-edge solutions dedicated to the saxophone, JLV Sound develops accessories designed to optimize instrument response, enhance core timbre, and offer musicians new opportunities to customize their sound.
Through this partnership, JLV Sound works alongside Maxima Entropia to foster a creative and educational ecosystem where experimentation, quality, and artistic development coexist daily. This collaboration encourages dialogue between technological innovation and musical practice, providing musicians with increasingly effective tools to express their unique sonic identity.
