Lutz Koppetsch grew up in Krefeld surrounded by music. He attended first clarinet lessons with Hungarian clarinetist and teacher Laszo Dömötör. He switched to saxophone at the age of nine, and this became his main instrument from that time on. As a teenager, Lutz played in local rock, punk and big bands but never abandoned the classical side. He spent his early years attending clubs and alternative rock concerts, rebelling against his conservative educational environment — which included his high school teachers with their traditionally humanistic focus. This was in stark contrast to the unstinting enthusiasm with which he pursued his studies in classical music, especially that of ensemble playing. Koppetsch won the top prize in the Jugend Musiziert competition with his saxophone quartet Saxemble on four occasions. As musical representatives of Germany, the four young saxophonists have travelled to Japan, Central America, North Africa and the United States. The outstanding level of their playing has aroused much enthusiasm, as have their uncompromising interpretations and youthful energy. In Germany, they have been the frequent recipients of scholarships and grants and havep layed in most of the important music festivals.They have also made radio and CD recordings. It was in his final year of high school that Koppetsch began to pursue more musical activities independently of the quartet. He attended masterclasses by recognized pedagogues such as Claude Delangle, Johannes Ernst and Arno Bornkamp, and it was with Bornkamp that he began post secondary work at the Amsterdam Conservatory. He went on to pursue advanced studies at the conservatories of Paris and Versailles and competed successfully in the German Music Competition in Berlin and the International ARD Competition in Munich. In 2002, at the age of 26, Koppetsch took over the saxophone class at the Würzburg University of Music and was appointed professor there in 2008. Along with his teaching duties, Lutz Koppetsch concertizes regularly and has appeared with groups such as Ensemble Modern, the WDR Symphony Orchestra, and the Essen Philharmonic. He is also active as a chamber music has worked with pianist Markus Bellheim, the Signum String Quartet, and the wind quintet Ensemble DIX. He has also has appeared as soloist with the Cologne Gürzenich Orchestra and the Würzburg Philharmonic. Koppetsch was a member of the Alliage Quintet from 2004 to 2009, and their concerts were enthusiastically received throughout Germany as well as in many other European countries. They received the 2005 ECHO Klassik award for their CD Una voce poco fa on the MDG label, and were well-received at the 2006 ZDF ECHO Klassik gala concert. In 2008 they recorded another CD, entitled Masquerade, for Sony BMG. In 2010 came a further ECHO Klassik award for the CD Flying Saxophone Circus, this time with Koppetsch as a member of the saxophone ensemble Selmer Saxharmonic. Lutz Koppetsch is an active proponent of contemporary music, and regular collaborators include pianist Alexander Schimpf and violinist Regine Schmitt. He is also part of Trio Comet, which is exclusively devoted to playing new works that have been written especially for the ensemble.
