Guitarist Ana Gorjanc (born 2000) began her musical journey at the Kranj Music School under the guidance of professor Nataša Bogataj. For her achievements, she was awarded the Grand Prize of the Kranj Music School. At the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Ljubljana, she continued her studies in the class of professor Igor Saje. During her education, she performed regularly, received top awards in competitions, recorded with RTV Slovenia, and played with the Kranj Music School orchestra. For her accomplishments at the Conservatory in Ljubljana, she was also awarded the Škerjanec Prize. Additionally, she is a two-time recipient of the Mladi upi sponsorship by Zavarovalnica Triglav and a scholarship holder of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia.
In July 2023, she completed her undergraduate studies at the Higher Conservatory of Music in Vigo, Spain, in the class of prof. Margarita Escarpa, and took part in an Erasmus exchange in the class of prof. Laura Young at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. While studying in Spain, she won first prize at the 11th International Online Music Competition (2020), second prize at the international guitar competition in Montenegro, and second prize at the soloist competition of the Vigo Conservatory (2021). She also won first prize in a duo with flutist Lara Raña Barreiro at the chamber music competition of the Vigo Conservatory (2020). As a soloist, she received first prize and, in a duo with Katarina Jakša, third prize at the Giovani Musicisti Treviso competition (2023). In addition to competitions, she recorded a concert at the Philharmonic with Glasbena Mladina Ljubljanska as part of the Prisluhnimo series and performed at EGTA Day. In September 2023, she began her master’s studies at the Mozarteum in the class of Laura Young. During her time at the Mozarteum, she won 2nd place at the Velespaña competition (2023), 1st prize at the national TEMSIG competition (2024), a special award at the international competition in Sinaia, Romania, and 1st prize with 100 points at the Krško Guitar Days (2025). She also performed in the Young Slovenian Classics concert series, was part of the Women's Voices project for several years, held a series of concerts with the Music Youth of Slovenia, played at the Ljubljana Festival, and is part of Live Music Now Salzburg. In cooperation with the Mozarteum University, she released her first album, Homage to Art.
In the AdArt duo with Staš Čakš, she won two third prizes over the past two years at the Zé Gregorio Lagoa competition in Portugal and the Enrico Mercatali competition in Gorizia, Italy (2023), and first prize at the 1st International Chamber Music Competition with Guitar Jornadas Internacionales de Guitarra de Elda in Spain. In addition, the duo performed at Rok's Summer 2023 and the Lent Festival 2024.
PROGRAM:
- Johann Sebastian Bach: 6th Suite for Cello (arr. Ana Gorjanc)
Sarabande, Gavotte I, Gavotte II, Gigue
- Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco: 24 Caprichos de Goya
No. 1: Francisco Goya y Lucientes, pintor
No. 20: Obsequio a el Maestro
No. 24: El sueño de la mentira y inconstancia
- Eva Ostanek: A Song by the Grave (arr. Ana Gorjanc)
- Regino Sainz de la Maza: Rondeña
The Austrian guitarist and composer Florian Palier discovered his love for music at an early age. He studied with his father Johann Palier and later with Marco Diaz Tamayo. He completed his studies with distinction in the class of Álvaro Pierri at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.
As a composer, performer and improviser, Florian Palier attaches particular importance to uniting different musical worlds. His greatest influences are Olivier Messiaen, Toru Takemitsu and Allan Holdsworth.
He is regularly invited to perform as a soloist and chamber musician all over the world - he has thrilled audiences with his interpretation of the "Concierto de Aranjuez" (e.g. Luxembourg Philharmonic), his solo program “Poetry and Colours” (consisting of music in a wide range of styles, from Dowland to Berkeley, original compositions and improvisations) or his program “Bach and I” (consisting of works by Bach, original compositions and improvisations).
In the field of contemporary music, he has played with ensembles such as Klangforum Wien, Ensemble XXI and the RSO Vienna.
His compositions, which have been performed and recorded from Japan to the Netherlands, have received excellent reviews. Palier leads a guitar class at the Gustav Mahler Private University in Klagenfurt and is a regular guest lecturer at master classes at renowned institutions and at music festivals worldwide. He was assistant to Álvaro Pierri at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna for many years. Palier has won numerous competitions in Austria and abroad, winning over 20 first prizes. Concerts, radio and television recordings (ORF, BBC, Classic Fm, etc.) have taken him all over Europe, Russia, the Middle East, the USA, Japan and Taiwan.