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Dubravka Tomšič Srebotnjak, pianist

Dubravka Tomšič Srebotnjak is one of the most internationally recognisable Slovenian artists. She performed her first recital at the age of five and by the age of 17 had graduated from the famous Julliard School of Music in New York, receiving two special awards. During her rich career she has performed on concert stages around Europe, the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Tasmania, Russia, Asia and Africa. She has collaborated with numerous prestigious orchestras and famous conductors and recorded more than 90 CDs for renowned publishers like Vox Classic and for radio and TV stations around the globe. She is also a jury member for many international piano competitions and a teacher at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana.

Marjana Lipovšek, mezzo soprano

Immediately after she completed her studies, Marjana Lipovšek was engaged by the Vienna State Opera, a beginning of an amazing career in which she has conquered the world stages. She has sung all the important roles of her voice type in the world's leading houses, including Dorabella (Cosi Fan Tutte), Dalila (Samson Et Dalila), Amneris (Aida) and Miss Quickly (Falstaff). In her concert and recording career, she has completed major tours around Europe, Japan and the USA and appeared with all the world's great orchestras. Numerous composers have dedicated song cycles to her due to her great voice and musical qualities. She has received many awards, including the Honorary Order of Merit in Gold, 1st Class of the Republic of Austria and the Grand Prix du Disque.

Irena Grafenauer, flautist

Irena Grafenauer started her musical education at the age of eight and for the past 40 years has been recognised as an exceptional flautist. She has won many international prizes, including first prizes in Belgrade, Geneva and Munich. She used to be the principal flautist with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. As a soloist she has successfully toured most European countries, the USA, Japan and Australia. She has regularly worked with numerous famous musicians and successfully performed in her own duo with harpist Maria Graf. She also has a rich recording career. In 1987 she was appointed Professor at the Salzburg Mozarteum where she teaches to this very day.

Igor Ozim, violinist

Ozim completed his studies at the Royal College of Music and his career has taken him all around the world. He has given over 70 concerts for violin and orchestra, many other violin solos and chamber pieces ranging from Baroque to modern. For 25 years he played in a duo with another big name of Slovenian music, pianist Marjan Lipovšek. He has recorded numerous CDs in Europe and the USA and has received many awards. He is renowned as an international top-class violinist and also as a popular teacher; he has taught in Vienna, London, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Australia and Slovenia and currently educates students at the Salzburg Mozarteum.

Janez Matičič, composer

Matičič's first compositions were strongly influenced by Classicism, Romanticism and Impressionism. However, while studying in Paris with French composer Nadia Boulanger he focused on contemporary composition currents. He has created many electroacoustic pieces and was member of Groupe de Recherches Musicales. In the past he taught at various conservatories in Paris and also at the Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana, resulting in a strong feel of these cosmopolitan influences in his music which is emotionally intensive, technically perfected and innovative. Among other instrumental pieces two symphonies can be found in Matičič's opus alongside many chamber pieces for violin and piano, and string quartet, violin and other soloist pieces. He has received many awards for his works, among them the prestigious Prince Rainier in Monaco. Besides composing he also gives piano performances.