Est. 2026 · London, England
A dedicated home for saxophone performance and education in the UK — a competition, a summer camp, a touring concert series and a growing library of new repertoire, grown from nearly a decade of work promoting the academic saxophone.
The British Academic Saxophone Association (BASA) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the advancement of academic saxophone performance and music education across the United Kingdom and internationally. We bring together saxophonists, composers, educators and music professionals to celebrate, develop and promote the highest standards of artistry and musical scholarship.
Organising the Cherry Saxophone Competition, now in its third edition and its first as an international platform hosted in London.
Running the Cherry Saxophone Camp, plus masterclasses and workshops with leading professional musicians and educators.
Collaborating with emerging composers to commission new works for saxophone and piano, growing the instrument's repertoire.
Producing concert programmes in cities across the UK and Europe, featuring saxophonists, ensembles and guest artists.
Supporting young and student musicians alongside established professionals, from the practice room to the concert platform.
The Cherry Saxophone Quartet is formed in Moscow, launching the Cherry Music project to promote academic saxophone repertoire.
The first edition of the competition brings together students from music schools and colleges, with masterclasses from leading Moscow and St Petersburg saxophone faculty.
The second edition draws entrants from more than 50 cities, judged by a jury of professors from the country's leading conservatoires; competition days are broadcast live from Moscow in March 2022.
A residential summer programme for young saxophonists, combining daily coaching with open-air performances.
The project's founder relocates to the UK on a Global Talent visa, endorsed by Arts Council England, settling in London in September 2024 and continuing to teach, perform and build touring concert programmes across the UK and Europe.
The British Academic Saxophone Association is founded, giving the competition, camp, concerts and repertoire work a permanent home in the UK.
The competition returns for its third edition — now international, hosted in London under BASA, with faculty from partner conservatoires on the jury.
Performing as Denis Patrickson, Denis is a saxophonist, pianist, composer and music educator with over 17 years of teaching experience in music schools and colleges. He is Chair and Executive Director of BASA and founder of the Cherry Saxophone Competition, the Cherry Saxophone Camp, and the Cherry Saxophone Quartet.
Now held for the third time and, for the first time, as an international competition hosted in London — an open platform for saxophonists of every age and stage, judged by a distinguished jury.
The competition has been held twice before, in Moscow, and returns in 2027 as an international event based in London.
The inaugural competition-festival for saxophonists, open to students of music schools and colleges.
Entrants from more than 50 cities, judged by professors from the country's leading conservatoires; competition days broadcast live in March 2022.
The competition's first international edition, hosted by BASA in the United Kingdom.
A recurring category for saxophone ensembles and chamber groups.
Live from the competition floor, Moscow — 3 March 2022.
Second competition day, broadcast live from Moscow — 4 March 2022.
From the Cherry Saxophone Competition archive.
Nikita Zimin performing with the Cherry Saxophone Quartet — the ensemble behind BASA's founding project.
For young saxophonists demonstrating exceptional promise and technical accomplishment.
For emerging professional musicians at the threshold of an international career.
Open to established professional saxophonists of the highest calibre.
For saxophone ensembles and chamber groups featuring the saxophone as a primary instrument.
Faculty from partner conservatoires sit on the jury, and their students take part as competitors — placing the next generation of saxophonists in direct dialogue with the players who teach them. Around the competition, BASA runs masterclasses led by visiting professors and jury members, open to entrants and to the wider student community.
A residential summer programme bringing young saxophonists together to study, rehearse and perform alongside professional musicians and educators — combining daily coaching with open-air concerts. The camp is the training ground that feeds into BASA's touring concerts and the Cherry Saxophone Competition.
BASA produces concert programmes featuring saxophonists, chamber ensembles and guest artists in cities across the UK and internationally — pairing local audiences with visiting soloists and giving students a stage alongside established professionals. Recent and upcoming programmes have taken in London, Edinburgh, Brighton, Liverpool, Glasgow, Moscow, Germany and France, at venues including St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh and Burgh House and St Mary le Strand in London.
BASA collaborates with emerging composers writing new music for saxophone and piano — commissioning and premiering works that grow the instrument's repertoire and give young composers a platform alongside performers.
BASA collaborates with faculty from both conservatoires, who join the jury for the Cherry Saxophone Competition and lead masterclasses for entrants and students. Students from both institutions take part in the competition as performers.
Faculty collaboration on jury panels and masterclasses; student participation in the competition.
Faculty collaboration on jury panels and masterclasses; student participation in the competition.
info@britishacademicsaxophone.com
140 Thurlow Park Road
London, SE21 8HN
England
Non-profit organisation (CIO registration in progress)
