Hugo Saavedra started his studies in Ibagué, Colombia at the age of 12. He won first prize in the national trombone festival Cien Años-Cien Trombones, as well as in the young soloists competition at the Conservatory in Colombia. As a member of the National Trombone Quartet, he won first prize with the National Quartet of Trombones in 2013.
Since 2011, Saavedra has served as principal trombone in the Youth Philharmonic of Colombia, playing concerts in venues around the world. He was also invited to play as soloist at the 2014 International Music Festival Tocancipa “Toquemus.” In 2012, he taught workshops and master classes at the International Music Festival in Cartagena, and in 2015, he attended the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan, conducted by maestro Valery Gergiev, among musicians of the Berlin and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras. Saavedra has been selected internationally by orchestras such as the Youth Orchestra of the Americas and the New World Symphony Orchestra. He also was invited by the Mahler Chamber Orchestra to play a tour in Germany under the direction of Daniel Harding.
Saavedra studied at Northwestern University and Roosevelt University. In 2019, he played with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Carnegie Hall, and he continues to play multiple concerts with the orchestra each season. He is also entering his third season as a Fellow of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. As a teacher and mentor, Saavedra works in music programs that promote diversity through music, such as Sistema Ravinia, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative, Chicago Arts and Music Project and the People’s Music School.
