Biography
GERARD CHUMILLA
Saxophonist & Composer
Gerard Chumilla Pérez (Caldes d’Estrac, 1999) is a Spanish jazz saxophonist and composer based in Switzerland. He started studying music at the age of five in a small town just up the coast from near Barcelona. Although spending the first years studying classical saxophone, he switched to Jazz at the age of 15 due to a big interest from an early age towards this music. Jazz strummed his heartstrings, and the seeds of his passion and devotion towards it began to take root. It was during these years that he decided to pursue music professionally.
Gerard began his Bachelor's studies in Barcelona under the direction of Prof. Eladio Reinón, as his saxophone teacher. Eladio became an important mentor who inspired and pushed him to practice intensely. He helped Gerard shape his goals and find a personal direction in music. In addition to strengthening his base through jazz lessons, Gerard reconnected with classical saxophone under the direction of Nacho Gascón. Throughout his lessons with Nacho, Gerard honed his technique and pushed the instrument’s borders, shedding light on new ideas.
After two years in Barcelona, Gerard transferred his studies to the renowned “Jazzcampus”, a music university located in Basel, Switzerland. During his bachelor's studies, Gerard became a student of the acclaimed saxophonist Mark Turner. Being a student of Mark Turner is one of the highlights of Gerard’s career. Mark has been one of the main influences on his music and learning directly from the source of inspiration has been such a privilege. In addition to this, he also took lessons with such greats as Brad Mehldau, Jorge Rossy, Jeff Ballard, Larry Grenadier, and David Virelles, as well as assisting in diverse masterclasses led by Kurt Rosenwinkel, Seamus Blake, Ben Street, and Guillermo Klein and others.
Gerard concluded his Bachelor's Degree in June 2020 with a recital where he interpreted a recently composed four-part Suite called “Viaje a La Guaira” (Journey to La Guaira). The suite tells the story of his grandfather, who was forced to exile from Spain to Venezuela by a sailboat, after being forced to join the Spanish army, which at that time was under fascist control. The Suite wasn’t recorded yet but can be streamed online as a video from the recital concert.
Presently (2022), Gerard just finished his master’s degree in production and performance at the Jazzcampus, where he continued to dive deeper into saxophone mastery with Mark Turner and mastered the art of composing with Ambrose Akinmusire and Guillermo Klein. In addition to this, he released recently his debut album with Jorge Rossy and Larry Grenadier under the label Fresh Sound Records. Gerard has recently become a Selmer Artist, one of the most prestigious saxophone brands in the world.
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