About Fredy Daza
Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Fredy began his musical studies at the age of 12. At the age of 15 he participated in the First National Saxophone Contest (Selmer Paris / Philippe Portejoie) hosted by the French Embassy in Colombia, where, even as its youngest participant, he was a finalist. After graduating from high school, he studied with Eduardo Aguilar at the Conservatory of the National University of Colombia for a year, then with the professor 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). During his career as a saxophone player, Fredy has played in some of the most important Jazz and Salsa festivals In the country, with Jorge Currea Jazz Ensamble (2012, 2015) and 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, playing in the most important theaters in the country like Colón Theater, Jorge Eliecer Gaitan, National Museum of Colombia, and Tadeo Lozano Auditorium. Following this, he began to participate in multiple recordings with a leading national artist: In 2018 he 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 the cruise ships of Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruises, and Seabourn, travelling Asia, Alaska, and Europe; affording him performance opportunities with Venezuelan big band Billo’s Caracas Boys in Colombia and at the Tenerife Carnaval in the Canary Islands in 2019.
His tours and travels allowed for workshops with some of the world’s most important 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 has played with international and famous Latin artists such as: Henry Fiol, Carlos Nuño, Luisito Carrion, Papo Sanchez, Jimmy Bosh, Pete Perignon, Nino Segarra, Proyecto A, and Tito Puente, Jr.
Fredy’s teaching style is warm, friendly, matter-of-fact, and characterized by creative methods of engaging and motivating every single student he teaches.