Composer and arranger
Àlex Cassanyes
Department of Jazz, Flamenco, Popular and Traditional Catalan Music
Graduated in composition from the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya, he also received classes from the Italian arranger Duccio Bertini, the American composer John Hollenbeck and the German composer/arranger Florian Ross.
Four-time international award winnerÀlex Cassanyes wins the 1st prize in the "Annual Young European Bigband Composer Competition"in Copenhagen in 2013.
In summer 2014 he won 1st prize in the "XXVII Concorso Internazionale de Composizione per Orchestra Jazz"held in the framework of the Barga Jazz Festival in Italy; Also at the end of 2014 he won the 1st prize in the contest of arrangements of the XXXV Festival Internacional de Jazz de Granada.
In 2019 he was awarded with the 1st prize of the "Esko Linnavali Big Band Composition Competitionin Helsinki (FI), organised by the UMO Jazz Orchestra, and in the same year he was a finalist in the "The UMO Jazz Orchestra" competition in Helsinki (FI).31º Concorso Internazionale di Arrangiamento per Orchestra Jazz” in the Barga Jazz Festival (IT). His arrangement was performed by the Barga Jazz Orchestra and trumpeter Dave Douglas;
In 2017, he participated in Florida (USA) in the symposium of the ISJAC (International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers) as a speaker and where her music was commented by the American jazz composer Maria Schneider. In 2019 he also participated in the symposium held in Greeley, CO.
One of its most relevant projects is the Àlex Cassanyes Big Band Projectan 18-piece band that has recently collaborated with the singer Anna Roig on the project ofLa Tendresse(2019-2021).
The ACBBP's first album was released in 2018 under the name ofThe Garden of Eden.
In 2021 the record company Underpool Records released the album "Composition II" original music written for jazz nonet. Also in 2021 Àlex took part in a production with the well-known German big band NDR Big Band.
He currently teaches at the ESMUC (Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya) and in the Vilafranca del Penedès School of Music.