Alejandro Oliván is one of the most active saxophonists in the field of contemporary music and sound experimentation. The opportunity to collaborate closely with composers and participate in the creative process behind new works lies at the core of his artistic practice. This commitment to contemporary creation has led him to premiere numerous compositions and work with both emerging and internationally renowned composers, among them Georges Aperghis, Peter Eötvös, Klaus Lang, Simon Steen-Andersen, Marco Momi, Chaya Czernowin, Nadir Vassena, and Germán Toro Pérez.

Alejandro Oliván studied saxophone with David Ruiz and Andrés Gomis before continuing his education at the Hochschule für Musik Basel with Marcus Weiss, where he completed Master’s degrees in Performance and Music Pedagogy, alongside specialized postgraduate training in higher education and university-level teaching. He also pursued advanced chamber music studies with Duo Signal as part of his artistic specialization.

Throughout his career, Alejandro has received numerous national and international awards. Among his distinctions are First Prize at the Basler Orchester Gesellschaft Competition (CH), Second Prize at the Nicati Concours in contemporary music, Second Prize at the Kiefer Hablitzel Competition (CH), Second Prize at the 1st Exigentia International Saxophone Competition (IT), and Second Prize at the 11ème Concours du Jura (CH).

As a soloist, he has performed with the Kammerorchester Basel (CH), the Real Filharmonía de Galicia (ES), the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, and the Staatsorchester Darmstadt (DE). He has also collaborated with ensembles and orchestras including ORCAM – Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid (ES), Lucerne Festival Orchestra (CH), Ensemble Collegium Novum Zürich (CH), Ensemble Aventure Freiburg (DE), Ensemble Lemniscate (CH), Ensemble Zone Expérimentale (CH), Ensemble Klangforum Heidelberg (DE), and the saxophone quartet Sigma Project (ES). His work has brought him together with conductors such as Simon Rattle, Walter Nussbaum, Peter Eötvös, Emilio Pomárico, and Matthias Pintscher.

Alejandro has been invited to perform at international festivals and concert series including the Darmstädter Ferienkurse (DE), ZeitRäume Basel (CH), Tage Neuer Musik Weimar (DE), Impuls Festival Graz (AT), Rümlingen Festival (CH), the Outear Series at Experimental Sound Studio in Chicago (US), the Null Point Series in Buffalo (US), the No Hay Banda Series in Montreal (CA), Rainy Days (LU), and Early Night Concerts in Lugano (CH).

Deeply committed to music education, Alejandro has taught at institutions including the Manhattan School of Music (New York), Longy School of Music (Boston), the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Granada, Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio (Madrid), Conservatorio Superior de Música de Albacete, Conservatorio Superior de Música de Aragón, the University of Medellín, the University of Cali (Colombia), and the Conservatorio Superior de Castilla y León, where he served as Full Professor in 2022. From 2022 to 2025, he was Assistant Professor of Saxophone at the Hochschule für Musik Basel alongside Professor Marcus Weiss.

His discographic work includes recordings with his chamber ensembles Gyre Ensemble and Fx Kollektiv, released respectively on the labels Another Timbre and Adora New Music.

Dedicated to contemporary creation and collaborative performance, Alejandro is a member of Duo Signal, Fx Kollektiv, Konus Quartett, and Gyre Ensemble.