Duo SIGNAL
"Duo Signal is a paramount example of commitment to the development of new repertoire. Their mastery in performing complex hybrid sounds through instrumental fusion deeply impressed the jury." — Jury of Concours Nicati 2023
Founded in 2019 in Basel, Switzerland, Duo Signal is a chamber music ensemble dedicated to the creation and dissemination of contemporary repertoire. The duo, formed by trombonist Adrián Albaladejo and saxophonist Alejandro Oliván, brings together two musicians with extensive professional careers, having performed at some of the most prominent contemporary music festivals worldwide. In 2023, Duo Signal was awarded the Second Prize at the prestigious Swiss contemporary music competition, Concours Nicati 2023.
Since its inception, Duo Signal has been actively involved in fostering the creation of new works. In addition to collaborating with selected composers, the duo organizes an annual Call for Scores, which has led to the commissioning of six new pieces to date. This initiative has also allowed them to discover and promote emerging talents in the field of contemporary music. Duo Signal has commissioned and premiered works by renowned composers, including Santiago Díez Fischer, Nuño Fernández Ezquerra, Jon Yu, Jaehyuck Choi, Kevin Juillerat, Emre Eröz, Dativo Tobarra, Nicolas Roulive, Fernando Manassero, Mioko Yokoyama, Luis Codera Puzo, and Hunjoo Jung. Upcoming commissions include pieces by Alfred Jiménez Romanenko and Claudia Jane Scroccaro.
Since 2020, Duo Signal has curated its own annual concert seasons in major Swiss cities, as well as participated in renowned festivals and concert series, such as Potries Music Fest (Spain), Klexos LAB (Spain), Unerhörte Musik (Germany), and Konzerte am Ausserberg (Switzerland). Every two years, the duo expands its instrumentation through the Signal+ project, collaborating with outstanding musicians from the contemporary music scene. Past collaborators include Alexander Gabryś, Kirill Zvegintsov, Jürg Henneberger, and the saxophone class of Marcus Weiss. Future collaborations feature soprano Nora Bertog and guitarist Francesco Palmieri, among others.
Duo Signal is deeply committed to supporting the professional development of performers and composers. Alongside their performance activities, they have developed several educational projects, including Signals, a series of interviews with composers to provide insight into their creative processes and collaborations. They also offer masterclasses and workshops on advanced techniques for saxophone and trombone, and have collaborated with institutions such as the Conservatorio Superior de Castilla-La Mancha, where they guided composers through all stages of creating a new work, from composition to performance. Both members of Duo Signal are active educators, offering individual masterclasses and teaching at conservatories.
Duo Signal’s performances are designed to engage the inquisitive ear, exploring the sonic possibilities of their instruments and the performance space. Their repertoire ranges from purely instrumental works to pieces incorporating audiovisual elements
