Since 2003, Franco-Canadian Daniel Gauthier has held the classical saxophone chair at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne, where his students have won numerous national and international awards. In 1997, he became Germany's first classical saxophone professor at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold in Dortmund. Founder of the Alliage Quartet, he won an ECHO Klassik award in 2005. A passionate chamber musician, Gauthier restores classical saxophone's presence on global stages. With degrees from Canada and France, he earned a doctorate in performance from the University of Montreal. He has performed worldwide, recorded multiple CDs, and premiered contemporary works with renowned composers.