​​Saya Yamamoto

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Saya Yamamoto is a Japanese saxophonist and improviser whose work moves between contemporary music, improvisation and performance. Her artistic practice explores the expressive possibilities of the saxophone through composed and improvised music, as well as interdisciplinary projects.

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After graduating from Showa University of Music, she moved to France, where she was unanimously awarded the Gold Medal at the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Cergy-Pontoise. She subsequently completed her saxophone studies at the Conservatoire de Mulhouse. In 2026, she completed her master’s degree at the FHNW Academy of Music in Basel, Switzerland, before returning to Japan.

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During her studies in France and Switzerland, she worked with composers including Liza Lim, Carola Bauckholt, Naoki Sakata, Christian Lauba and Michel Chebrou in rehearsals and performances of their works. She also appeared with the Basel Sinfonietta in the Swiss premiere of a work by Morton Feldman.

As a former member of Ensemble Saxovoce, she participated in several concerts and CD recordings, primarily in Paris.

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Her distinctions include First Prize in the Chamber Music category at the 10th Nantes International Competition in France and First Prize at the 14th Kurashiki International Saxophone Competition.

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She studied saxophone with Yoshiki Omori, Jean-Yves Fourmeau, Christian Wirth and Marcus Weiss; contemporary music with Sarah Maria Sun and Yaron Deutsch; and improvisation with Andrea Neumann.

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Now based in Japan, she continues to develop projects that bring together contemporary music, improvisation and performance. A particular focus of her work is expanding the repertoire for baritone saxophone through transcription.