Fernando Sánchez

Biography

Fernando Sánchez's musical journey began at the age of seven, when he made his debut as a soloist at his school's year-end festival, performing "Ta Paidia tou Piraia" on the flute. That moment not only ignited his own passion for music but also revealed his potential to his father, a professional trumpeter. Soon after, he entered the conservatory, where he formally studied music theory and clarinet. However, his true artistic calling lay elsewhere—in the saxophone and a broader range of modern musical styles. After completing his conservatory studies, Fernando chose to follow his inner voice, studying saxophone and modern harmony under the tutelage of Iñaki Askunze for three years. In the early 1990s, he was awarded a scholarship by the Government of Navarra, which enabled him to travel to Chicago, USA, for further studies. There, he honed his skills in saxophone, modern harmony, and improvisation with renowned musicians such as Pat La Barbera, Hal Galper, and Dan Haerle. He also attended workshops and masterclasses with distinguished saxophonists including George Garzone (Berklee College of Music), Ariel Brínguez, Seamus Blake, and Ernesto Aurignac, continually expanding his artistic horizons. This profound training translated into a rich and prolific performance career. Fernando has performed on over 30 album recordings, spanning genres as diverse as jazz, rock, pop, fusion, world music, classical, and electronic music. He has been a core member of numerous ensembles, including the Yerry Jazz Band, Moliendo Café Trio, ES3 Trio, Fernando Sánchez Jazz Quartet, Musicata, La Rioja Big Band, Castilla-La Mancha Big Band, Tommy Cajani Serion Project, Bórbola, Navarra Symphony Orchestra, and the Joyful Gospel Choir. Today, Fernando remains active at the forefront of various musical projects and works extensively as a session musician. Alongside his performance career, he is a dedicated educator, teaching saxophone, clarinet, flute, and modern harmony at music schools, where he continues to share his deep knowledge and love for music with the next generation of musicians.