Faculty

Fredy Daza
Teaching Artist, Saxophone

Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Fredy began his musical studies at the age of 12, and at 15, was a finalist and the youngest participant in the First National Saxophone Contest (Selmer Paris / Philippe Portejoie), hosted by the French Embassy in Colombia. After graduating from high school, he studied with Eduardo Aguilar at the Conservatory of the National University of Colombia, then Cesar Villamil at the Superior Bogotá Academy of Arts. During his years under the direction of Villamil, Fredy played with the Ensemble Colombia Saxophone Quartet, performing at the most important theaters of the city and attaining some landmark achievements in his blossoming career, including First place at the PeruSax 2011 (Classical Saxophone Quartet category) and Jury Member at the XI Classical National Saxophone Contest  in Mexico (2012). Fredy has played in premier jazz and salsa festivals In the country, with Jorge Currea Jazz Ensemble (2012, 2015), and was Invited Artist for Conmoción Orquesta (2015).

​From 2016 to 2018, he was a lead alto sax in the Bogotá Philharmonic Youth Band and the lead player of the band's saxophone quintet, after which he participated in multiple recordings with a leading national artist. In 2018, Fredy played saxophone and flute on ClaraLuna's album Imaginare, which won the Latin Grammy Award in the category of Latin Music for Children. His career continued with varied musical performances and tours as lead saxophonist on board several cruise ships, where he traveled to Asia, Alaska, and Europe and performed with Venezuelan big band Billo's Caracas Boys in Colombia, at the Tenerife Carnaval in the Canary Islands in 2019, and with the National Ballet Danzar Colombia in Italy in 2010. 

His tours and travels allowed for workshops with some of the world's leading saxophone players in jazz and classical music: Eric Marienthal (USA), Cesar Lopez (CUBA), Claude Delangle (France), Philippe Portejoie (France), Sam Newsome (USA), Jay Rodriguez (USA) Emiliano Barri (Argentina), Sonsax (Costa Rica), Josetxo Silguero (Spain), Miguel Villafurela (Chile), and Carlos Averhoff (CUBA). Fredy also has played with international and renowned Latin artists, including Henry Fiol, Carlos Nuño, Luisito Carrion, Papo Sanchez, Jimmy Bosh, Pete Perignon, Nino Segarra, Proyecto A, and Tito Puente, Jr.