RAAF
HEKKEMA

is an adventurous Dutch saxophonist. Performing mainly his own arrangements, he gives approximately 100 concerts per year the world over.

New Album on Pentatone:

Sigfrid Karg-Elert’s complete works for solo saxophone, stylistically encompassing Bach and baroque dances as well as dance-hall and atonality. This recording is the result of my life-long quest to unveil the musical intentions of this enigmatic, colourful composer.

Performing mainly his own arrangements, Raaf Hekkema gives approximately 100 concerts per year the world over. He has appeared as soloist with numerous orchestras and has given many international masterclasses. The solo CD ‘Paganini Caprices for Saxophone’ (MDG, 2006) earned him the German Echo Klassik ‘Instrumentalist of the Year’ title.
 
He has released three Bach albums with Challenge Classics: Bach Partitas (2014), Bach Suites (2018) and Bach Solo (2023).
 

For his artistic merits Hekkema was admitted to the Society of the Arts of the Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2020.

Hekkema is co-founder of Calefax Reed Quintet (since 1985), for whom he has arranged and composed hundreds of works, many of which have been recorded.

 
The ensemble plays at prominent concert venues worldwide, from South America to Japan, appears regularly on international radio and television, and has issued more than 20 albums. Calefax has also been the recipient of various prizes and distinctions.

Raaf Hekkema teaches classical saxophone at the Royal Conservatoire The Hague.

Raaf, long time. Stumbled onto your new record. It’s beautiful. Your tone is fantastic. Congratulations. Hope to hear you in concert at some point.

sheet music

Another brilliant example of lifting the saxophone family once more back into the realm of where Monsieur Sax surely must have hoped it would find its ultimate destination.

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Listen to Raaf Hekkema’s compositions