Govorov & De Groot Duo
Breaking barriers in conceptions of both saxophone music and classical music, the newly formed duo, Govorov & De Groot are already captivating audiences with their energetic cross-cultural performances.
With an extensive and varied career, sought-after Russian saxophonist Sergei Govorov emerged in the U.S. in late 2022 after being forced to flee his country due to the ongoing war. With a storied 25-plus-year career, Govorov made his musical mark early, winning the Grand Prix at the Vyacheslav Shchelokov competition at 14 years of age. Not long after, he was invited to study with the prominent classical saxophonist Margarita Shaposhnikova. During the course of his studies, he began touring throughout Russia and before fleeing Russia, was one of Russia’s most well-known saxophonists. With distinction as a Yamaha Artist, Govorov was selected to perform at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in 2011, where such renowned musicians as Billy Idol, Norah Jones, Diana Krall, and Quincy Jones were also performing.
Now, having recently received his EB-1A visa—a green card for people with extraordinary abilities—Sergei Govorov is delighted to bring his unique and entertaining saxophone music to American audiences with the collaboration of a young and rising American pianist, Britta De Groot. De Groot recently completed her Master’s in Piano Performance under renowned instructor of piano, Dr. David Korevaar. She has been praised for bringing high energy and enthusiasm to her performances as a classical piano soloist and collaborator.
Govorov and De Groot launched their duo in 2023, and have already performed over 30 concerts not only along the Front Range area, where they are based, but have also been privileged to share their music with a wide-array of audiences, from the rugged mountains of Montana to the vibrant streets of New York. Coming from two highly distinctive nations, the duo is passionate about building alliances for peace through the universal language of music. The duo invites audiences to enjoy their performances, which consist of a dynamic blend of classical selections as well as classical-fusion, and repertoire from more popular genres.