Johannes Kretz was born 1968 in Vienna. He studied composition (and pedagogy) at the Music Academy Vienna with Francis BURT and Michael JARRELL and mathematics at the University Vienna.1992/93 he went to France to study at IRCAM, Paris with Marco Stroppa, Brian Ferneyhough and Tristan Murail. From 1996-2001 he worked as teacher for music theory and composition at the conservatory of Vienna, since 1997 as teacher for for computer music at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, since 2001 also teaching music theory, since 2004 also composition. In 2009 he obtained artistic habilitation in composition and became associate professor. In 2008 he founded ZiMT, the “center for innovative music technology" of the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, in 2013 he was appointed as dean/head of department of the Institute for Composition, Electro-acoustics and Tonmeister Education. He is (co-)founding member of NewTonEnsmble Vienna, of the European Bridges Ensemble (a multimedia artist group performing over Internet), the international composers group PRISMA, of the performance duo TOUCHING, and of ikultur.com. Together with Wei-Ya Lin und Mahdieh Bayat he is curating „aNOther festival Vienna“.

His works have been performed in Austria, Germany, Poland, France, Czech Republik, Turkey, Latvia, Lithuania, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, USA, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Uzbekistan and Iran and are regularly broadcasted in Austrian and German radio. Commissions of works and important performances/collaborations include renowned institutions and ensembles like the National Theater Hall, Taipei, the Festival Ars Electronica, Linz, the Konzerthaus Wien, Klangforum Wien, Ensemble On Line, quartett22, Internationale Lemgoer Orgeltage, Haller Bachtage, Triton Trombone Quartett, Wiener Kammerchor. He received numerous grants and prizes like the 2nd prize of the international competition for orchestral composition STIFTUNG CHRISTOPH DELZ (Switzerland) (2002), Theodor-Körner-Prize for composition (2004), Austrian State Prize (2004), Recognition Prize (2007) of the government of Lower Austria.

www.johanneskretz.com

Mahdieh Bayat was born in 1976 in Zahedan/Iran. She studied arts and craft (carpet crafting, specialization wood and wood cutting and clay sculpturing, additionally photography, miniatures, ceramics) in Birjand and Zahedan. From 2005 to 2010 she completed her studies at the academy of fine arts Vienna with studies of contextual painting in the master class of Hans Scheierl. Since 2012 she is co-curator of aNOther festival (www.anotherfestival.org) and since 2014 art teacher at the intercultural art workshop for young people iKultLab (www.ikultlab.com).

Her exhibitions and performances include Werftgalerie (2004), group exhibitions at the academy of fine arts Vienna (2005 and 2006), AutoNom, Vienna (2007) Tradition and Modernity, disruption or evolution, Vienna (2008), Embody Aula, academy of fine arts Vienna and „Alle Leichen sind schwer, aber nicht alles Schwere Leiche“, Kulturdrogerie (2009), crossborders, Masc Foundation Vienna (2009), Barriere, Diploma exhibition at the academy of fine arts Vienna (2010), Confligere, Internationaler Kunstverein Schattendorf (2010), NeoSI, Internationaler Kunstverein Schattendorf (2011), the performance „metamorphose“ together with Betsabeh Aghamiri (2012), the performance „untitled“ together with Betsabeh Aghamiri (2013), a portrait exihbition at porgy&bess Vienna (porgy.at) together with the composer Johannes Kretz and the performance „how do you feel, when you look at me?“ with Betsabeh Aghamiri (2014), „voyeurage“, a video at Theater Ilkhom (Mark Weil) Tashkent, Usbekistan, the performance „Two Stories“ with Betsabeh Aghamiri (2015), the portrait exhibition „escaping patterns“ at Waley Art Gallery Taipei, Taiwan and the presentation of the Video „Karousell“ at Gallery Larjevardi Foundation, Teheran (2016), live painting together with Richard Pfadenhauer at WUK Vienna , a portrait exhibition at Rauchsalon Vienna „Es lebt noch“, a house exhibition together with Florian Nitsch and Micha Wille, a video performance at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna „Etnomusicology in Concert“ (2017)

www.mahdieh-bayat.com

Born 1983 in Varaždin, where she visited elementary and high music school in the class of professor Davorin Premec. In this time, she several times presented herself on National Music and Dance Competition in Rijeka, where she won one first and two second prizes. She attended master-classes with D. Sremec, G. Merčep, M. Drvenšek, E. Rousseau, C. Delangle and E. Devalon. Petra started her studies at »Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Graz« in the class of professor Peter Straub and continued at »Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien« in the class of professor Oto Vrhovnik, where in 2008 she earned the title »magistra artium« and finished her master’s degree with excellency. From 2006 she parallely registered saxophone masters at »Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität der Stadt Wien«, where she had learned from a young and eminent saxophone player Lars Mlekusch.

During her study she regularly visited master classes of renowned professors: C. Delangle, M. Donninelli, J.M. Londeix and J.I. Formeau. In 2007 Petra won first prize at »Wettbewerb der Jungen Oesterreihischen Blasinstrumentalisten – Yamaha«, and in 2008, a scholarship at »Fidelio« competition in Vienna. She was also a scholarship holder of Varaždin County. She has performed as a soloist and also in various chamber casts. In Graz she was playing with »Quadrofon« saxophone quartet and in Vienna with »AlBaTESo Saxophne Quartet«. With the latter she visited China, Beijing, Shanjan and Zibo. After that she cooperated with »Tzigane Saxophon Quartet« and »Wiener Saxophon Quartet«, with which she performed S. Sciarrina's play »Terribile storia di Gesualdo da Venosa« in Vienna puppet theatre »Kabinetttheater«. She debuted at many solo and chamber performances, playing plenty of works of contemporary composers, from which we only mention a few: D. Bobič's «Mali Diptih« and »Prolaznosti«, »Trio« for two clarinets and soprano saxophone from Iranian composer A. Safari, »Combustion« and »Trio« for viola, tenor saxophone and piano Columbian composer R. Tovar. She has been a member of composers' and instrumentalists' society »Neuer Atelier«, which goal is to promote and perform contemporary music all around Europe, from 2009. Until today she has been working with »Wiener Jounesse Orchester«, with Slovenian Armed Forces Orchestra and with the Slovenian Philharmonics.

In 2008 Petra Horvat was cooperating with a young and renowned pianist Khatia Buniatishvilli and also with a violinist Nora Schwarzberg Romanoff. With them she performed one of the rare original musical scores for saxophone and a string instrument, P. Hindemith's »Trio op. 47«. Work was performed at »Progetto Martha Argerich« Festival and on »Festival Lockenhaus«.

From 2010, Petra is an active member of »S.O.S.« saxophone orchestra and of »Trio Lyrique« chamber band. Then, from 2011, she has been an artistic leader and an iniciator of the »Sax and more« festival, endeavouring to provide a classical saxophone even wider audience and more stages, as in Croatia so beyond borders. Under guidance of composer Günther Zechberger she was working on many years' standing international project Drava – Klangmobile (2012-2014), which unites artistic creation of modern architecture, literature and music. In 2012 Petra presented herself on the chamber and solo music festival – »Podiumfestival Esslingen«. In 2013 she was a soloist with »Simply Brass Quintet«, playing a debut Saxbras suite of the Croatian composer Ivan Josip Skender in the Small concert hall V. Lisinski in Zagreb. She is a soprano saxophone player in the „LadieSaxophone Quartett“ as well. She is the main coordinator an artistic leader of Podium Festival Brijuni/Fažana, which in 2015 took place in Croatia for the first time.

Since 2008 Petra Horvat has been a saxophone music teacher at Ljubljana Vič-Rudnik Music School and at Varaždin Music School.

Violinist Artiom Shishkov works with such orchestras as: The Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia, The National Orchestra of Belgium, The National Philharmonic of Russia, State Chamber Orchestra "Moskovia", Moscow Chamber Orchestra, The Chamber Orchestra of Polish Radio “Amadeus”, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, State Symphony and Chamber Orchestras of the Republic of Belarus.

His conductor collaborations include such distinguished names as: Eduard Grach, Agnieszka Duczmal, Augustin Dumay, Michael Hofstetter, Vladimir Spivakov, Gints Glinka, Aleksandr Anissimov, Misha Katz, Valentin Uryupin, Alexander Sladkovsky, Claudio Vandelli, Konstantin Orbelian, Gilbert Varga, Vladimir Ponkin.

Artiom has performed alongside such artists as: Sviatoslav Moroz, Jérôme Pernoo, Aiman Mussakhajayeva, Alexander Sitkovetsky, Aaron Wajnberg, Andrey Baranov, Maxim Fedotov, Leonid Kerbel, Jérôme Ducros.

Artiom Shishkov born in Minsk in 1984 and started to play violin at the age of five with Janna Kutchinskaya as his teacher and successfully debuted as a soloist with orchestra in the Belarus State Philharmony when he was only eight. From 1994 till 2002 he studied at the Republic Music College and later at the Belarus State Academy of Music with Eduard Kutchinsky. In 2010-2012 he studied as a postgraduate student at the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts with Dora Schwarzberg.

Dedicated chamber musician, Artiom is the first violin of the “Lipkind Quartet” under the leadership of one of the world’s leading cellists Gavriel Lipkind.

Artiom Shishkov performs a lot both as soloist and chamber musician and combining his intense concert life with teaching and giving master-classes.

Žiga Faganel studied violin with Alive Schoenfeld at the Thornton School of Music in the USC University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He perfected himself with Rainer Küchl and Peter Götzl in Austria. He has proven himself on several competitions, also as a member of the string quartet Tetraktys. He was a concertmaster of Slovenian and international youth orchestras and is now a member of the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra and the String Quartet of the Slovenian Philharmonic.

In 2009 he recorded CD of violin sonatas of Giuseppe Tartini along with Tomaž Sevšek and Domen Marinčič. These years he performs with the ensemble Musica Cubicularis (Choregie Festival, Velenje Festival, Portotož Auditorium, Fantasies under the Celje Ceiling, Sounds of Classical Music on the Ljubljana Castle, Days of Olden Music, Radovljica Festival, HARMONIA CONCERTANS – Old Music on a New Square). He plays the baroque violin of an unknown master from South Germany from the first half of the 18th century.

Nataša Grujić (1989) is a Serbian violinist born in Belgrade. At the age of 14 she entered the Bachelor degree at the University of Belgrade. After finishing her bachelor and master degree in Belgrade, funded by the scholarship of the Serbian Governament, “Young Talents” ,Nataša moved to the Netherlands (2009) and got a fellowship in the Master of Music Program at “Codarts” University in Rotterdam. Under the leadership of prof. Gordan Nikolić, Goran Gribajcević and prof. Mischa Furman she graduated her second master degree in 2010.

During her student years as well as after graduation Nataša cooperated with the Nederlands Kamer Orkest as well as NedPHo (Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra) playing all around Holland and enjoying many festivals including “Le Folle Journee” (2011 and 2012) in Nantes, France.

From 2010 she is a member of orchestra “Bandart” situated in Spain and led by Gordan Nikolić , where she found the magic of symphonic music in projects throughout Madrid, Valencia, Granada, Peralada, Alicante etc. In the summer 2012 she won a scholarship to attend “Holland music sessions”- young musicians in career making where she had various concerts and lessons with prof. Sherban Lupu (Romania/USA). In 2013 Nataša joined the Classical Concert Chamber Orchestra (California USA) led by Ashot Tigranyan, later to become the concertmaster on many tours around Europe: Italy, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Scandinavia, Poland, Armenia etc. 2015 brought cooperation with a chamber orchestra “Camerata Nordica” situated in Sweden. In 2016 Nataša was invited to join “Double Sens” (France/Serbia), a chamber ensemble of a world renowned Serbian violinist Nemanja Radulović. They performed on many festivals around Europe. She is also a proud member of the “Mokum Symphony” (Amsterdam) whose message is to prioritize the musical expression, inspired by the old masters, led by the violinist and founder of the orchestra Joan Berkhemer.

Giving great importance to teaching Nataša had an opportunity to live in Portugal from 2012-2014 where she had a position of a violin docent at the Esproarte Escola Profissional de Arte de Mirandela.

Living in The Netherlands she is currently giving lessons in Haarlem and Amsterdam. Playing in orchestras, performing recitals or playing chamber music with her partner and pianist Daan Treur as well as with friends, Nataša uses all her time developing as an artist and has devoted herself to music making as the ultimate way of communicating with no boundaries, in this world with so many.

Hiwote Tadesse (1993) is a Croatian violist of Ethiopian origin. Her music education started at Elly Bašić Music school in the class of Andreja Halužan-Bratković. In 2011 she started studying at the Royal Conservatory in Ghana and at the Maastricht Conservatory in the class of Michael Kugel, where she graduated in 2016 as the best student of the generation. Hiwote is currently specializing at the Belgian prestigious Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel. In season 2016/2017 Hiwote has been leading violas at the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, since 2017 she is working as the leader replacement of violas in Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra.

She is winner of many national and international awards such as Grand Prix at the International Youth Music Competition in Moscow (2014), first prize at the Citta International Competition of Barletta in Italy (2013), first prize at the 46th and 48th Croatian Music and Dance contest (2008, 2010). As a soloist she was performing with La Chapelle Sauvage, Royal Comservatory Orchestra in Gent, Croatian Chamber orshestra, Dubrovnik Symphony orchestra. She was cooperating with A. Zemtsov, T. Samouil, G. Hoffman, A. Dumay. In 2013 Hiwote becomes a member of the Hulencourt Soloists Chamber Orchestra, which was conducted by Guy Braunstein. As soloist and chamber musician Hiwote is performing throughout Croatia and abroad: Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Israel and Benelux. He also participated as a lecturer and chamber musician at the Winter festival of Chamber music in Florida (USA) and holds seminars in Croatia and Ethiopia. In 2015 she passed a very challenging audition and represented Croatia on the summer tour of the European youth Orchestra. As a soloist, she has been given a chance to perform at the Grafenegg Festival and the Spazio Klassik Festival. She is playing on the modern isrument of the builder O. Erdesza, which was a nicely given to her to play it by the Erdesz family.

Alja was born in 1989 in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

She started playing cello at the age of 8 and at 16 was accepted to Music University Zagreb to do class of Valter Dešpalj. Alja graduated and obtained her Bachelor and Master Degree with highest honors. She continued her studies at Conservatorio della Svizzera-Italiana in the class of Monika Leskovar and later with Gavriel Lipkind in Frankfurt.

Alja was improving her skills in several courses cooperating with F. Helmerson, D. Geringas, I. Gitlis, A. Rudin, A. Bylsma, M. Perenyi, G. Hoffman, C. Hagen, D. Ferschtman, O. Mandozzi, L. Fenyӧ, R. Latzko and many others

As a soloist Alja performed with Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Budapest Strings, Moscovia Ensemble, Orchestra CSI Lugano, Cappellen Symphony Orchestra, Sudwestddeutsches Kammerorchestra and is also very active chamber musician. She performed, among others, with Mischa Maisky, Giovanni Sollima, Monika Leskovar, Ani Schnarch, Petr Jirikowski, was a member of WISE (Wiener International Soloist Ensemble) and Cellomania Ensemble. As a soloist and chamber musician she performed in Europe (Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, Greece, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark), Israel, Russia, Japan and USA. Alja has recently became a member of Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra.

Sofija Cingula was born on 21st May 1977 in Zabok near Varaždin. Both, her first general education and experience of music are linked to the town of Varaždin, where she completed elementary and high school (Math and Natural Sciences Grammar School). Simultaneously she attended music elementary school where she played violoncello with Prof. Darij Milković, and afterwards she studied singing at the Music High School Varaždin with Prof. Darija Hreljanović.

After obtaining her first degree in singing, she continued her studies and obtained her diploma in opera and singing at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna with Prof. Gun Kronzell – Moulton, Prof. Mag. Franz Lukasovski and Prof. Mag. Sebastian Vittucci.

In June 2003 she obtained her first Masters degree in Opera class with Prof. Curt Malm (Acting), Prof. Uwe Theimer (Interpretation) and Prof. Mag. Sebastian Vittucci (Singing). In 2002 she started her second postgraduate study in Lied and Oratorio with KS Marjana Lipovšek. In March 2007 she obtained her second Masters degree in Lied and Oratorio with KS Robert Holl.

She continued her professional development with Prof. Lidija Horvat-Dunjko and Prof. Dunja Vejzović. In the course of her professional and academic career Sofija Cingula has attended and completed numerous professional courses and competitions and been awarded various prizes. Thus, among numerous professional and academic courses and seminars she attended courses in medieval music and singing, Summer Academy Vienna - Prague – Budapest in Baden with Prof. Mag. Franz Lukasovski, Master Course in Voice and Belcanto with Prof. Mag. Sebastian Vittucci in Urbania (Italy), etc.

From the very beginning of her career in singing, she has attended several competitions and been awarded many prizes (1993 – State Competition in Singing in Rijeka, Croatia; 1995 – State Competition in Singing in Split, Croatia; 2004 – Finale of the Fifth International Competition “Debut in Meran”, Merano, Italy, 2007 – Finale and Special Prize for the Interpretation of the Second International Competition Concorso Internationale di Canto Città di Sant’Angelo, Italy; 2009 – Second Prize and Special Prize for Best Interpretation of Theatre in Brno at the Iuventus Canti Competition; 2010 – Seoul International Music Competition).

For her exceptional achievement the Rotary Club Varaždin awarded her in July 2004 with the Prize for Excellence for the best Masters Thesis in 2003. The topic of her thesis was “Dora Pejačević, life and songs”. Her first solo concert Sofija Cingula held already in 1995 in the Croatian National Theatre Varaždin. From that early professional age on she has been regularly concerting and participating in various performances of secular and sacred music (eg. Bach: Johannespassion, Weihnachtsoratorium, Pergolesi: Stabat mater, Diabelli: Mass in C major, Mozart: Coronation Mass, Spatzenmesse, Missa Brevis in d KV 65, Requiem, Haydn: Missa Sancti Nicolai Nr.6 in G, Schubert: Missa in G - D 167, Mendelssohn: Elias, Britten: A Ceremony of Carols, Rejoice In The Lamb, Vivaldi: Gloria in D major, Zippoli: Misa Kyries, Händel: Dixit Dominus, Saint-Saëns: Oratorio de Noël, Dvořak: Mass in D Op.86, Igrec: Slavonic Mass, Viennese Mass…) in Croatia and abroad (Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, Japan, China, South Korea etc.)

Already during her studies she was invited to sing in numerous operas in Austria and Germany (Ganymed in The Beautiful Galathea by Suppé, Third Boy and Third Lady in The Magic Flute by Mozart, Lieschen in La Molinara by Paisiello, Annina in La Traviata by Verdi). She also performed Orfeo in Orfeo ed Euridice by Glück in München and Schlosstheater Schönbrunn, Vienna. At the same opera house she performed Lou in Die Geschichte des Picando by Schedlberger in 2002 (world premiere) as well as her Masters Degree role of Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel by Humperdinck in 2003. In the City Theater Meran, Italy, she sang Maria in Brunello by Heinzmann (world premiere). In 2003 she performed Third boy in The Magic Flute by Mozart at the Autumn Festival in Jennersdorf, then La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi by Puccini and Orlofsky in The Bat by J. Strauss. In the season 2003/2004 in the Volksoper, Vienna, Sofija Cingula performed in the operetta Boccaccio by Suppé and she was the cover for the Third Lady in The Magic Flute by Mozart.

At the end of 2004 she took part in the China tour with the Konzertvereinigung der Volksoper. The year 2005 brought her back to singing in numerous concerts at home and abroad. Thus, she participated in gala concerts in Urbania in Italy. She performed twice this year as alto solo in Zippoli’s Mass (once in Varaždin’s Cathedral accompanied by a direct radio transmission and second time during the closing ceremony of the festival 35th Varaždin Baroque Evenings). Since then, Sofija Cingula also sang at the 36th festival Varaždin Baroque Evenings and at the opening ceremony of the 40th edition of this renown festival.

Sofija Cingula performed at the Musikverein in Vienna (Austria), Hrvatski glazbeni zavod in Zagreb, Croatian National Theatre in Varaždin, Croatian National theatre in Zagreb, Croatian national Theatre in Split, Istrian National Theatre in Pula (Croatia), Endowment of Ilija M. Kolarac in Belgrade (Serbia), Seoul Arts Center (South Korea), City Theatre in Meran, Teatro Bramante in Urbania (Italy) with ensembles such as Wiener Concert –Verein, Hofkapelle München, Varaždin Chamber Orchestra, Rucner String Quartett, Symphonic Orchestra of Juraj Dobrila University in Pula, Camerata Serbica, etc.

At the Croatian National Theatre in Varaždin, Sofija Cingula performed as Daphne in Le malade imaginaire (H. 495) by Marc-Antoine Charpentier. She collaborated with recognized artists and conductors such as KS Marjana Lipovšek, Sebastian Hollecek, Sandra Trattnigg, Elisabeth Kulman, Akiko Nakajima, Niels Muus, Marc Piollet, Uwe Theimer, Andres Orozco Estrada, Helmut Lohner, Borut Zagoranski, Szilárd Kovács, Vladimir Gligorić, Ljiljana Vukelja, Janko Đoković, Smiljana Ružić, and famous Croatian artists Mladen Tarbuk, Vladimir Kranjčević, Miroslav Homen, Ivan Josip Skender, Tomislav Fačini, Anđelko Igrec, Saša Britvić, Tomislav Mužek, Lana Kos, Margareta Klobučar, Jelena Štefanić, Ivana Lazar, Valentina Fijačko, Helena Lucić Šego, Lidija Horvat Dunjko, Višeslav Jaklin, etc.

Sofija Cingula acts as a promoter of the Croatian music, especially of the female composers and authors of the composers cirlcles of Varaždin and Istria.

Sofija Cingula worked at the Croatian National Theatre “Ivan pl. Zajc” in Rijeka as an assistant director to the German director Christian Romanowski and renown Croatian singer Dunja Vejzović.

At the moment she is employed with the Music Academy of Juraj Dobrila University of Pula as an assistant professor (Voice, Fundamentals of Vocal Technique, Excersises in Vocal Technique, Chamber music, etc). She is the Head of the Department of Solo Singing and Department of Piano.

Tamara Jurkić Sviben, Croatian pianist, graduated in the class of prof. Jurica Murai in 1995 and received a master of arts in the class of prof.Vladimir Krpan in 2006 at the Zagreb Music Academy . Since 1992 she has been performing as a solo pianist and chamber musician at various Croatian and international festivals with a repertoire dated to the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. She released three CD-s, under the label of Croatia Records: Piano, Four piano sonatas of Croatian composer Božidar Kunc and album Enchanted piano. Her love for the Croatian musical heritage and mostly forgotten Croatian composers has directed her further interests towards researching Croatian musicians of Jewish origin and their contribution to Croatian culture and musical heritage. This research has resulted with PhD degree in Croatology, in July 2016 at the Faculty of Croatian Studies of the University of Zagreb. Currently, she is a research assistant at the Faculty of Teacher Education, University of Zagreb.

Lithuanian-born pianist Veronika Kopjova enjoys an active musical life as both a soloist and chamber musician, performing regularly in halls throughout Europe at prestigious venues such as Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Musikverein Vienna, Konzerthaus Vienna, Bratislava Philharmony, Graz Musikverein, NDR Hannover, Auditorio Ciudad de León, National House of Vinohrady Prague, Lithuanian National Philharmonic halls. As a soloist she has performed concertos with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, Christopher Chamber Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra Castilla y León and the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie Orchestra. Her performances have been broadcast on Dutch National Radio, NDR Kultur, Germany, ORF Austria and National Radio of Lithuania.

Veronika is a prize-winner of numerous international solo competitions in Germany, France, Spain, Lithuania. She has received scholarships from Yamaha-Foundation, Lithuanian Ministery of Culture, Live Music Now Hannover and University for Music and performing Arts Vienna.

As a soloist and chamber musician Veronika Kopjova performs regularly in festivals such as „Klassik in Spandau“, „Choriner Musiksommer“, “Bebersee Festival”, „Christopher Summer Festival“, „International Chamber Arts Festival ENSEMBLE“, International Festival of Stars „FORTEpiano – Toruń 775”.

Veronika has benefitted from solo and chamber music masterclasses with distinguished musicians such as Elisabeth Leonskaja, Steven Isselis, Hatto Beyerle, Jacques Rouvier, Andrea Bonatta, Liana Issakadze, Jean-Guihen Queyras and others.

After graduating form Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in Vilnius where she has received her Master degrees of Piano Performance and of Pedagogy Veronika is currently specialising in Piano Chamber Music at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna with Prof. Avedis Kouyoumdjian. At the same time she is studying on the renowned postgraduate concert soloist course ‘Konzertexamen’ at the University of Music, Drama and Media Hannover with Prof. Ewa Kupiec. Since October 2014 she is lecturer at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

Daan Treur was born in Haarlem (The Netherlands) and grew up in Nieuw Vennep where he, at an early age, got his first piano lessons in a music school. Showing a great talent, Daan was soon invited to join a Young Talent School at the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague, where he graduated high school in the class of prof. Marlies van Gent. In this period Daan won many competitions in The Netherlands including: Steinway Concurs, Princess Christina Concurs, SJMN and others.

After high school Daan continues his education at the Amsterdam Conservatory where he meets his teacher prof. Mila Baslawskaja. This is the period where Daan developed his affinity for chamber music that, as a big love, has an irreplaceable place in his musical life.

Daan is a member of “New European Ensemble” in The Hague, he is also a founder of “Haarlem Piano Trio” together with a violinist Eduardo Paredes and cellist Isabel Vaz. His long cooperation with a violinist Natasa Grujic brought him a very diverse repertoire and developed in a musical and life partnership.

Daan took stage as a soloist with orchestras on various occasions, one of them being a concert where he performed Rachmaninoff concerto No.2 with “Betuws” orchestra conducted by Nicholas Devons. He took masterclasses with renowned artists: Konstantin Bogino (Russia/France), Franco Scala (Italy), Almudena Cano (Spain), Tamara Podupnaya (Russia), David Kuijken i Paul Komen (The Netherlands) etc.

Being a dedicated pedagogue, Daan nurtures his piano class in Haarlem and Nieuw Vennep. He was a piano docent in “Conservatory of Braganca” and “Conservatory of music Mirandela” (Portugal) from 2014 until 2016. Daan is conducting , playing and leading church choir “Saint Mary” in Haarlem.

Pianist Matija Potisk (1981, Maribor) took his first lessons with professor Mira Cvetkov and continued his music education with professors Lidija Malahodky-Haas and Igor Bravničar. Before going to the university he won several top prizes at numerous national and international music competitions, including First Prize in Stresa and Povoletto (1998). He also attended several master classes with well-recognized pedagogues and pianists (Arbo Valdma, John Perry, Igor Laszko et al.).

In 2001 he was accepted to Hochschule der Kunste Bern (Bern University of the Arts) in Switzerland where he studied under the well-recognized pianist and professor Aleksandar Madzar. During his studies he concentrated on perfecting his piano playing while he also took great interest in chamber music, piano duo, accompaniment and improvisation. He performed mainly in Switzerland.

After finishing his studies in 2005 he returned to Slovenia where he was first employed as an accompanist and later on as a piano teacher. Currently, he works at the Franc Šturm Music School in Ljubljana. He collaborated a lot with soprano and assistant professor at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana Pia Brodnik. Together they have performed for the first time German songs of Benjamin Ipavec which were later recorded and published by Založba kaset in plošč RTV Slovenija. He is performing both in Slovenia and in abroad, as a soloist or with Trio Lyrique. In the season of 2012/2013 he collaborated with SNT Opera in Ballet Ljubljana as a soloist in ballet Svadebka (The Wedding) by Igor Stravinsky under the conductor Simon Krečič.

Morana Pešutić began her music education at the age of eight under the instruction of Vesna Faullend Hefferer and later under Ivana Trogrlić. In 2006. she graduated from Music Academy in Zagreb in the class of Darko Petrinjak after which she starts her Master studies at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague with maestro Zoran Dukić.
Besides formal education Morana also had lessons with world's famous guitarists such as P. Steidel, C. Marchione, A. Desiderio, L. Young, M. Tamayo, M. Dylla, G. Krivokapić, M. Socias, I. Römer, A. Vidović...


Over the years Morana performed in Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, The Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Monte Negro... She also played in numerous chamber music ensembles among which are The Hague Guitar Quartet and Amicorde Guitar Trio. 
Currently, she plays in Coulé Guitar Duo and various ensembles with other instruments (flute, clarinet, cello) and works as a guitar teacher in music school “ Blagoje Bersa“ in Zagreb (Croatia). Her students have won highest prizes at national as well as international competitions. 
Morana is a member of jury in different classical guitar competitions and gives seminars and masterclasses. She was a member of “Youngmasters International Young Musicians' Summer Class” organizational committee in Samobor as well as its artistic director in 2013, and in 2014 she co-founded Zagreb Guitar Festival and was its artistic director for the first two years.

Ana Horvat was born in Varaždin. Her music education starts at 9 in the class of Professor Gordan Perši at the Music School in Varaždin where she immediately shows her extraordinary talent. Through her education, she has participated in numerous regional, national and international competitions, where she won first prizes and achieved high results (Croatia, Italy, Macedonia). She has mastered masterclasses with recognized Croatian and world names.

She graduated from the Zagreb Academy of Music in 2013 in the class of professor Milko Pravdić. As an exchange student she was also studying at the Ljubljana Academy of Music from the renowned Slovenian clarinet player Jože Kotar.

She collaborates with the best Croatian orchestras; The Croatian Chamber Orchestra, the Varaždin Chamber Orchestra, the Croatian National Theater Orchestra in Zagreb, the Cantus Ensemble for Modern Music, and the Croatian Armed Forces Orchestra. As a soloist she performed with the Zagreb Philharmonic in the Great Hall of Vatroslav Lisinski and with the Croatian Chamber Orchestra and Orchestra of the Armed Forces at the Croatian Music Institute.

Currently she is working as a music instructor at the Blagoja Berse Music School in Zagreb.

Genre of music: classical, contemporary, electro-acoustic, live-act

LadieSaxophone Quartet is a unique group of female saxophonists, whose concept is to perform music, written by young contemporary composers from their native countries. Their story began in September 2013, followed by various musical projects in which they participated with a desire to present a repertoire for classical saxophone on the highest level and make it approachable for a wider audience. The quartet consists of experienced musicians who are connected through love for classical saxophone and chamber music: Petra Horvat (soprano saxophone, CRO), Weronika Partyka (alto saxophone, PL), Betka Bizjak Kotnik (tenor saxophone, SI) and Jovana Joka (baritone saxophone, CRO). The members are saxophone graduates, accomplished pedagogues and winners of numerous competitions in the classes of their mentors: prof. M. Drevenšek, prof. J.D. Michat, prof. L. Mlekusch and prof. O. Vrhovnik.

During three years of their collaboration they have achieved several memorable performances across Croatia, Poland, France and Slovenia. They are very motivated and eager to expand their audience throughout the world. Besides standard classical and contemporary programme, LadieSaxophone also explores different genres of music and self-expression through various projects. Consequently, in June 2016 in the second rendition of LadieS Night, in collaboration with young contemporary composers and audio-visual artists, the quartet will introduce tango in their distinctive and peculiar style.

The repertoire of the quartet includes modern compositions, as well as traditional pieces, conducted for saxophone quartets. So far, they have successfully presented compositions by: B. Šipuš, N. Šenk, D. Przybylski and A.M. Huszcza. At the same time, they are aware of the importance of a visual identity and recognition. Therefore they are collaborating with a Croatian fashion designer Mirna Posavčević and a Polish graphic designer Martyna Rzepecka in order to achieve a complete symbiosis of seemingly separate areas of art.

The notable strengths of LadieSaxophone quartet are undoubtedly their refined ladylike charisma, the distinguished talent and nationality contrast. Different ethnical traditions and experience, as well as cultural diversities and values, further enrich the multicultural identity of this quartet. With these special qualities, four unique individuals together create a sound, which captivates both the ears and the hearts of every audience. The members are employed as pedagogues at the Conservatoire for music and ballet Ljubljana, Slovenia and at the Secondary school of music in Varaždin, Croatia. During summertime they run master classes and seminars. They are active members of the following ensembles: Saxophone orchestra Sequoia SOS, Trio Lirique, UCHOKO, Duo Betka Bizjak Kotnik and Milanka Črešnik, Duo Jovana Joka and Danijela Horvat, JazzIstra Orchestra.

Trio Classico was founded in 2012. The idea of ​​setting up the ensemble was born out of long-standing friendship, love for chamber music and the desire to share music even from student days. Trio is united by experienced performers, young instrumentalists. The core of the trio is flute, clarinet and bassoon. Trio Classico devotes special attention to the works of local composers, performing the already famous compositions and at the same time encouraging the emergence of new ones.

In addition to the classical repertoire, they are performing works created during the 20th and 21st centuries through which the ensemble creates new sound spheres and explores new techniques of playing woodwind instruments. Trio members are: Katarina Horvat (flute), Ana Horvat (clarinet) and Zdeslav Brnabić (bassoon).