Iwan Roth, legendary saxophone virtuoso and teacher, completed his musical studies at the Paris conservatory of music in the saxophone class of MarcelMule (1901-2001), who was together with Sigurd Rasher, the founder of the modern classical saxophone. In 1961 he obtained the 1. Prize for Saxophone.
In that same year he also obtained the 1. Prize for chamber music under the direction of professor Fernand Oubradous. One year later, in 1962, he began studying the flute with Professor Gaston Crunelle at the Paris conservatory. During his study he had the opportunity to assist classes from Darius Milhaud and Olivier Messiaen, which happen to been professors at the Paris conservatory during this period.
During his career as a soloist and orchestral musician he had the opportunity to play with orchestras such as the Berlin and the Vienna Philharmonic orchestras, the Orchestra of the Radio of Bayern, the Orchestra “Süddeutsche Rundfunk” Stuttgart, the Orchestra of the Südwestfunk, Baden-Baden, and theOrchestra of the Scala of Milan, with conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Pierre Boulez, Colin Davis, Igor Markervitch, Charles Dutoit, Luciano Berio and Leonard Bernstein. With those orchestras and as a soloist he has performed concert tours in the most important cities of the world.
His recording production is extensive. He recorded14 LP and CD’s. Countless recordings for broadcast, Radio and TV must be added. Many composers have dedicated their works to Iwan Roth. Among them figure Luciano Berio, Paul Creston, Boris Mersson, Robert Suter, Rudolf Kelterborn and Jacques Wildberger.
As a professor Iwan Roth was the creator of the saxophone classroom at the academy of music in Basle (Switzerland), which became under his influence, among with Paris, Bordeaux (Prof. Jean-Marie Londeix), Indiana University, Bloomington (Dr. Eugène Rousseau), and Northwestern University (Dr. Frederik Hemke) one of the world centers for the study of this instrument. Marcus Weiss, former student from Iwan Roth continues this tradition.
During 35 years of educational work he did teach students including numerous winners of international competition Successful saxophone virtuosos and prominent university teachers such as
Arno Bornkamp: Professor at the Conservatory Amsterdam
Marcus Weiss: Professor at the Basel Conservatory, Switzerland
Johann Van den Linden
Preston Duncan, USA
Wenpeng Yang, China
Per Egholm , Danemark
Sander Beumer
and many other saxophonists, who have important positions at music-academies and Universities Iwan Roth has also been between 1984-1992 professor at the Conservatory of Utrecht (Netherlands), guest professor at the Paris Conservatory of Music and Indiana University of Bloomington (USA). It has given master classes in several universities of the USA, Japan and regular summer courses in Sion (Switzerland), Gap, France, Tarragona , Spain and Noto (Sicily).
He has been a member of the jury in International Competitions such as Geneva, Gap (France), Arvika (Sweden), Bayreuth (Germany) and Dinant (Belgian). He also worked as a clinician for the Selmer and Yamaha companies.
Iwan Roth has always shown great interest for other musical styles, especially for Jazz, which has taken him to work with singers as Charles Aznavour, Sammy Davis JR, Mireille Matthieu, Salvatore Adamo and Johnny Hallyday. In the Jazz field he had the opportunity to collaborate with the important vibraphone player Lionel Hampton and made several jazz CD’s with well known jazz musicians.
At the present time Iwan Roth lives in Locarno (Switzerland) and meanly dedicates his activity to teaching students which are coming to visit him.
He also teaches classical saxophone trough the Internet, Text’s and video lessons, with his associate Alex Terrier (New York) , one of the best young Jazz saxophonists and great pedagogue, which conducts the jazz department. Iwan Roth does also give private lessons per Skype & Facetime.