In this artistic residency, composer Cristiano Melli, a researcher at Studio LOOS, and

saxophonist Ola Rokkones from Tromsø, Norway, will engage in a focused exploration of

musical possibilities. The primary objective of this collaboration is the development of a

saxophone concerto, initially conceived with a version for organ and saxophone.

The residency will involve detailed discussions on compositional techniques, sound

materials, and structural elements inherent in the creation of the concerto. Emphasis will be

placed on the integration of Melli's compositional expertise and Rokkones' saxophone

virtuosity to produce a well-crafted and technically challenging piece.

Beyond the artistic aspects, the residency aims to strengthen professional ties

between Melli and Rokkones, fostering a collaborative synergy essential for the successful

execution of the concerto. The collaborative efforts extend to researching potential funding

sources, ensuring the financial support necessary for the composition and subsequent

premiere of the work.

The practical aspects of the residency include workshop sessions, technical

exploration of sonic possibilities, development of ideas and structures, in order to fine-tune

the final composition. Through this process, Melli and Rokkones will aim to achieve a

cohesive and technically sound saxophone concerto that reflects their combined expertise

and contributes to the contemporary musical repertoire. The residency concludes with a

strategic plan for funding applications, setting the stage for the concerto's composition,

refinement, and eventual public presentation.

Ola Asdahl Rokkones (b. 1983) lives in Tromsø, Northern Norway, and is one of few

saxophonists working at a professional level within the fields of both classical music and

jazz. His discography is growing and includes twelve releases of various genres, such as

the albums Arctic Saxophone (LWC1263) with Arktisk Filharmoni, Trio Brax (LWC1248)

with Julia Neher and Sergej Osadchuk, Man in the Sea (FBCD246) with Treskatresk,

Zwei-Mann-Orchester (FBCD242) with Mean Steel, and Norwegian Saxophone

(LWC1162) with Fabio Mastrangelo and the St. Petersburg Northern Sinfonia.

As a classical musician, he has appeared as a soloist with several orchestras in Norway,

Russia, Germany and France, among them Arktisk Filharmoni, Bergen Philharmonic

Orchestra and the Mariinsky Symphonic Orchestra. He has commissioned and

premiered music by numerous composers, such as Anders Torgunrud Røshol, Alexander

Aarøen, Alexander Manotskov, Terje Bjørklund, Agnes Ida Pettersen, Tine Surel Lange,

Herborg Rundberg, Rakel Nystabakk, Helge Iberg, Kjell Habbestad, Martin Romberg,

Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen, Erik Stifjell, Lars Skoglund, Håvard Lund, Bodvar Drotninghaug

Moe, and Bjørn Breimo.

As a jazz- and ensemble musician he is highly profiled through several groups, such as

Mean Steel, Trio Brax, Marit Sandvik & Nova Onda, Treskatresk, Mike del Ferro Quintet,

and Magyar Hot Club. In 2010 he was selected as the Norwegian representative to the

prestigious European Jazz Orchestra. Since 2020 he has been the musical director of the

project Fargespill in Tromsø, and he has also worked with dance- and theatre

ensembles, such as the choreographers Silje Solheim Johnsen and Gerd Kaisa Vorren, as

well as the theatre group Ferske Scener.

With various constellations he has toured internationally, and performed in Norway,

Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, France, Austria, Russia, Poland, The Czech

Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Turkey, and Brazil.

He has studied with several acclaimed teachers including Lars Lien, Vibeke Breian, Jean-

Yves Fourmeau and John-Pål Inderberg. In 2012 he received the culture prize of Tromsø

Municipality, and in 2018 he was the laureate of the artist grant of the Troms region. In

2019 he was selected as one of the four recipients of the Barents Scholarship, “for

valuable and outstanding contribution to the cultural life and cooperation across

borders in the Barents Region”. In 2022 he was awarded an artist grant from Ingerid,

Synnøve og Elias Fegerstens Stiftelse.

Discography:

• 2023: Arctic Saxophone (LAWO) with Per Kristian Skalstad and Arktisk Filharmoni

• 2023: Flora Eallin (Is it Jazz? Records) with LEAGUS og Nordnorsk Jazzensemble

• 2023: Trio Brax (LAWO) with Trio Brax

• 2019: Man in the sea (Finito Bacalao Records) with TRESKATRESK

• 2019: Zwei-Mann-Orchester (Finito Bacalao Records) with Mean Steel

• 2018: Norwegian Saxophone (LAWO) with Fabio Mastrangelo og St.Petersburg

Northern Sinfonia

• 2018: Autumn Sessions (Finito Bacalao Records) with Mike del Ferro Quintet

• 2018: Flor (Finito Bacalao Records) with Marit Sandvik & Nova Onda

• 2017: I denne søte juletid (TerjeB Productions) with the organist Terje Baugerød

• 2013: JazzPoetry (Finito Bacalao Records) with Cats vs. Kitchen

• 2012: Son del Ecuador (Acustico) with Sonora Cimarrón

• 2010: Pirate Bay (Finito Bacalao Records) with DripP