SIMON
PERČIČ

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Simon Perčič is slovenian conductor. In his two-decade conducting career, Simon Perčič has primarily dedicated himself to youth music activities. In recent times, he has collaborated with various symphonic, operatic, and wind orchestras, as well as ensembles for contemporary music. Simultaneously, he deepens his expertise and knowledge of the repertoire and era of Viennese Modernism. His collaborations have led him to perform in prestigious venues worldwide, including Konserthuset Stockholm, Harpa Reykjavik, Müpa Budapest, Musikverein Vienna, and the Berlin Philharmonic. Among his achievements, Perčič has served as the artistic director of Pihalni orkester Komen, Vevški Pihalni Orkester, Civica Orchestra di Fiati "G. Verdi," and the Trieste Wind Band Project. He is also a co-founder of three internationally acclaimed projects: Orkesterkamp - Summer Music School and Festival, Svirel - International Competition and Festival, and Simfonični orkester NOVA Filharmonija. Konserthuset-Stockholm, Harpa-Reykjavik, Müpa-Budapest; 's musikverein-Vienna, and the Berlin Philharmonie. Among other things, it was a Perčič also the artistic director of the Held from Komen, Vevškega Held From, Civica Orchestra di Fiati “G. Verdi” and Trieste Wind Band Project. In addition to this, he was a co-founder of three of the internationally-recognised projects. Orkesterkamp – The summer music school and festival, Svirel – The international competition and festival and the Symphony orchestra of the Of the NEW Philharmonic.

After completing his trombone studies at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, he earned a master's degree in choral and orchestral conducting from Luleå University of Technology in Sweden. Additionally, he refined his conducting skills at the Italian academy Scuola di Musica di Fiesole under Jorma Panula. As an instrumentalist, he actively participated as a chamber and orchestral musician with the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra and the Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Moreover, he frequently engages as a mentor in pedagogical projects involving young talented musicians. In this role, he conducts orchestral masterclasses at EMARS (Slovenia) and leads the orchestral program at the Sinj Summer Music School (Croatia). In past years, he successfully ran numerous courses with international participation organized by the University of Music in Vilnius and Szeged, and music associations in Seville, Brescia, Vicenza and Nova Gorica. In addition to his concert activities, he dedicates himself intensively to his music-theoretical doctoral dissertation at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.

Simon Perčič has collaborated with the following orchestras: National Music Festival Symphony Orchestra (USA) Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra Slovenian Armed Forces Orchestra (Slovenia) Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra Białystok (Poland) Witold Lutosławski Chamber Philharmonic (Poland) Zugló Philharmonic Budapest Szeged Music Academy Wind Orchestra (Hungary) Banda Sinfónica Municipal de Sevilla (Spain) Lithuanian State Wind Orchestra Vilnius Music Academy Orchestra (Lithuania) Civica Orchestra di Fiati di Milano (Italy) The University of Oulu Symphony Orchestra (Finland) Norrbotten NEO (Sweden) Norrlandsoperan Symphony Orchestra (Sweden) Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra (RSPO)-Orchestral Academy (Sweden)

JAKA
PUCIHAR

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In 1998 he graduated with honours from the Ljubljana Academy of Music with a degree in Composition and Music Theory (mentor Prof. Alojz Srebotnjak) and in 2002 he completed his Master's degree. He is a recipient of the student Prešeren Prize, and since 1999 he has been a full professor of Jazz Harmony, Arranging, Improvisation at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, where he is also the founder of the Jazz Chair. In addition to his work as a composer, arranger and teacher, he is also very active in the field of recreation: he collaborates with some of the most prominent artists, such as Irena Grafenauer, Mate Bekavec, Darja Švajger, Vito Mavrič, the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra and Big Band, and many others. With his wife Ilonka, he is the co-author of the popular series of textbooks MY FRIEND THE PIANO (slo/hr/ang).