JURY FOR STRING INSTRUMENTS
Déri György
Griffith University, Queensland Conservatorium, Brisbane, Australia
I became preliminary student of the Bartók Béla Conservatory at the age of nine. From 1983 I entered the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. I had seven years of education there, with outstanding professors such as Melinda Kistétényi or György Konrád. While at the Academy I started parallel studies in composition at the Conservatory.
Teaching became more and more important in my life since 1991, when I started teaching at the Academy.
In 2004 I got honored with the Liszt Ferenc Prize and became assistant professor beside Prof. Miklós Perényi – from 2010 I am senior lecturer at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music Budapest.
Since 2010 I am the leader of the cello and double-bass faculty of the Liszt Academy. In 2011 I made my doctorate. Since 2011 I am the head of the cello and double-bass faculty at the Liszt Acadermy.
Since 2020, he has been working as a senior lecturer at Griffith University, Queensland Conservatorium in Australia.
Anzhela Akopyan
Music Academy Metropolitana in Lisbon, Orquestra Metropolitana in Lisbon, Portugal
He started his musical training at the age of seven. In 1979, she was admitted to the P. S. Stolyarski Special Musical School for Gifted Children, Odessa.
She studied in the class of A. V. Pavlov, considered the best teacher in Ukraine.
In the 1989 year, she entered the Nezhdanova Conservatory in Odessa, continuing to study in the class of master A. V. Pavlov.
In 1994 she was invited to work with the Serbian Chamber Orchestra in Belgrade as an instrumentalist and soloist. At the same time, she devoted herself to musical pedagogy and also played in the State Symphony Orchestra of the Opera Theater in Belgrade.
Has been working at the Orquestra Metropolitana in Lisbon since 1997. Additionally, a professor at the Music Academy Metropolitana in Lisbon with extensive knowledge as a violin and chamber music teacher.
Dilbağ Tokay
Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Istanbul State Conservatory, Istanbul, Turkey
Dilbağ Tokay started studying the cello at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University İstanbul State Conservatory with Reşit Erzin, and received her DMA from the same Conservatory.
She has worked with prominent cellists such as M. Khomitzer, N. Ullner, F. Berthold, A. Rudin and has given numerous recitals, chamber and orchestral concerts in Serbia, Sweden, Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Pakistan, Syria, India and Brazil. Additionally, she has given masterclasses and was a jury member in Turkey, Bulgaria and Italy.
With Emine Serdaroğlu, as CelloPianoDuo, she has received superb international feedback after performances at prestigious concert halls and festivals. Their “Turkish Music for Cello and Piano” CD is released by NAXOS and was awarded 2016 “Recording of the Year Award” at the prestigious Donizetti Classical Music Awards.
For her instrumental teaching rôle at MSFAU Istanbul State Conservatory Tokay has been awarded numerous prizes in Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia for excellence from international competition bodies.
JURY FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS
Sérgio Charrinho
Superior Metropolitana Orchestra Academy, Lisbon, Portugal
In 1993, he joined the Portalegre Conservatory, where he studied with José Pereira.
He continues his studies at the Beira Interior Professional School of Arts in 1996, with Fernando Jorge Ribeiro, and in 1999, at the Hector Berlioz Conservatory in Paris, with Bruno Nouvion.
He organizes the International Trumpet Festival Almost6. Member of the Brass Factory Band, with which he recorded the Tribute CD to Frank Zappa in 2017.
He is 1st Trumpet at the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra since January 2003 and he is teatcher at the Superior Metropolitana Orchestra Academy.
Sérgio Charrinho is a Yamaha Artist.
Antonello Timpani
Conservatorio di Musica “Licinio Refice”, Rome Italy
Antonello Timpani graduated in Clarinet at the Conservatory “L. Refice “of Frosinone. He furthered his studies at the Accademia Pescarese and at the Musical Campus of Latina, respectively, with Masters Franco Ferranti and Anthony Pay, obtaining certificates of merit.
He performs both as soloist and in chamber groups: has performed at prestigious concert halls in Italy (Sala Baldini, Palazzo Barberini, Aula Magna of the University La Sapienza of Rome, Conservatory of Reggio Calabria, Lamezia Terme Theatre, etc. ..) and abroad (Israel, Czech Republic, Spain, Luxembourg , Lithuania).
He spends much attention for years to amateur musical bands, trying to spread mainly original music for banda, both as a conductor, as a clarinetist and a composer. It ‘s often invited to be part of committees of national competitions. Since 2002 Professor of Clarinet, first in the Conservatory of Reggio Calabria and then in the Conservatory of Frosinone.
Miomir Simonovic
Faculty of Music, Belgrade, Serbia
Miomir Simonovic graduated and got his M.A. at the Faculty of Musical Arts in Belgrade, in the class Tahir Kulenović, prof.
He went to H. Berlioz Conservatory (Pariz, France) as a scholar of the Foundation for Scientific and Artistic Youth of Serbia.
In 1997 he was elected Assistant for the flute at the Faculty of Music Arts in Belgrade.
He was re-elected for the same position in 2001, and in 2003 he was elected Docent for the flute at the Faculty of Music Arts in Belgrade.
He has held over 50 recitals so far, some in Belgrade and Serbia, some in France and Spain.His students have won over 100 awards in festivals, state, country and international competitions.
He was awarded several times for his outstanding pedagogical results, once by the Union of Associations of Music and Ballet Pedagogues of Serbia for his pedagogical results over the years, awarded to him as the youngest professor since the award has been established.
JURY FOR PERCUSION
Raúl Doménech Rubio
Unión Musical Porteña Valencia, Spain
Graduated from the Higher Education in Percussion, Joaquín Rodrigo Conservatory in Valencia. As a teacher, he has been working uninterruptedly since 2003 in music schools and conservatories, publishing ensembles and didactic material focused on the teaching of percussion, as well as composing music for percussion and wind band.
His musical interest has led him to take numerous courses and master classes with countless professors in different fields such as percussion, conducting and composition.
He is co-author of the percussion method “Percuaderno” in 8 volumes, focused on the elementary teaching of percussion, and author of the new method “Aprende y disfruta con la Percusión”. He publishes his works and educational material in “Ediciones Tot Per L´Aire” (Spain), Branfor (Spain) and Hamar Percussion Publications (E.E.U.U.)
Mariusz Mocarski
Fryderyk Chopin University of Music Białystok branch, Poland
Marius Mocarski – drummer, graduate of the Academy of Music F. Chopin in Warsaw (branch in Białystok), as well as the State Jazz College at the State Secondary Music School F. Chopin in Warsaw.
Since 2017, he has been cooperating with the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Branch in Białystok, where in 2019 he obtained a doctoral degree in musical arts in the artistic discipline of instrumental studies. Session musician, the output of about 50 albums with artists representing a number of musical genres.
His pupils and students have won prizes and awards at over 40 national and international percussion competitions. Lecturer and juror at many percussion workshops and festivals.
Percussion consultant at the Artistic Education Center. Lecturer and juror at many percussion workshops and festivals. From 2018, in the ranks of the International Committee, the world’s largest percussion organization – Percussive Arts Society (USA).
Ali Izmailov
State Conservatory of Uzbekistan, Taskent, Uzbekistan
Education: State Conservatory of Uzbekistan named M. Ashrafy in Drum & Percussion class (Orchestral faculty) 1989-1994. Postgraduate student of State conservatory of Uzbekistan named M.Ashrafy in Drum & percussion class (Orchestral faculty) 1997-1999
Teaching Experience: Upgrade qualifications course in University of modern technology Uzbekistan (2013). Upgrade qualifications course in University of modern technology Uzbekistan (2009)
Rewarded with State certification-Awards “Tasanno” (2008). Rewarded with State certification-Awards “Tasanno” (2007). Rewarded with State certification-Awards “Tasanno” (2006)
Doctor -senior teacher of percussion class in State Conservatory of Uzbekistan (1998-till now). Vice dean of Orchestral faculty of State Conservatory of Uzbekistan (2002-2003)
Symphony Orchestra of conservatory of Uzbekistan as musician (1998-2005).
Popular-Symphony Orchestra of State TV-radio media group (2000-2001).
State University of Arts, teacher of percussion class-15 student graduated (1990-1998)
JURY FOR PIANO AND PIANO ENSEMBLE
Michael Kravtchin
Musik akademie der Stadt Kassel „Louis Spohr», Kasel, Germany
Michael Kravtchin was born in Moscow in 1972 and came to Germany via Israel. Frankfurt, Hanover, Detmold and Freiburg are the stations of his music education. In particular, his training with the great pianist Anatol Ugorski influenced him musically and artistically. He also studied with Vladimir Krainew and Felix Gottlieb.
Michael Kravtchin regularly gives concerts in many halls in Germany, such as the Ständesaal, the Documenta Hall and the Kassel State Opera, the Festeburg Church in Frankfurt and the Dortmund City Hall. As a chamber musician with well-known soloists, he devotes himself to the entire range of chamber music repertoire.
He was the cultural prize winner of the city of Kassel in 2005. Since 2012 he has been the artistic director of the “Night Concerts” concert series in Kassel.
His solo and chamber music activities also regularly take him to other European countries, including: to Switzerland, Spain and France.
Michael Kravtchin teaches piano at the “Louis Spohr” Music Academy in the city of Kassel.
Pawel Bortnowski
Zespół Państwowych Szkół Muzycznych im. G. Bacewicz, Koszalin, Poland
Paweł Bortnowski (Murawski until 2016) was born in 1968 in Lviv in a family of musicians. In 1975 he started music education in Flory Strelcowa class at the Music School in Kiev. In 1983 he continued his education in M. Lysenko Specialized Secondary Music School in Kiev in the class of prof. Igor Riabow, which he graduated in 1988 in the class of his father’s, Aleksander Murawski. In the same year, he began studying in Kiev at the Petro Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine, continuing his studies in his father’s class.
After graduating in the class of prof. Galina Neporozna, in 1994 he left for Poland.
He continued his pedagogical activity in the State Music School Complex in Koszalin and the State Music School of the first and second degree in Szczecinek. His pupils actively participate in nationwide and international competitions, winning numerous awards and distinctions.
Paweł Bortnowski is also involved in methodological activities, conducting open classes, consultations, and he also developed his signature curriculum at the second-degree school in Szczecinek.
In 2017, he received the first degree state award of Center for Artistic Education for overall pedagogical and performance activity.
Yoon Sen Lee
WA Academy of Performing Arts, Yoon Sen Lee Music
School, Perth, Australia
Yoon Sen Lee was born in Singapore and then came to Australia in 1991, completing his piano performance Bachelor degree with honours and Masters of Music degree of M.Mus (perf) with distinction in performance from the University of Western Australia.
Yoon Sen is a renowned and highly regarded music educator, a senior music examiner and advisory board member for the Australian Music Examinations Board (WA) and regular adjudicator at international piano competitions. He teaches at the University of Western Australia, Edith Cowan University (WA Academy of Performing Arts) and is also professor of International Piano Academy in Imola, Italy.
He has a music teaching career that spans over more than 40 years and has nurtured many music students who became winners at various local and prestigious international piano competitions. Many of his students have been admitted into top institutions in the USA, Europe, China and also Australia. Yoon Sen has nurtured my students to gain entries to universities and conservatories including New England Conservatory of Music, Julliard School of Music, University of Western Australia, WAAPA, Melbourne University, Imola Piano Academy In Contri col Maestro and various institutions in Europe.
Ivanka Kordic
Primary and secondary music school “Vatroslav Lisinski”, Zagreb, Croatia
IVANKA KORDIC graduated piano at the Music Academy in Zagreb in the class of prof. Ivo Macek. She took specialized courses held by professor S. Neihaus.
All her life she spent in the music school Vatroslav Lisinski in Zagreb, where she was (1983 — 1996) Headmaster of the Piano Department. Ministry of Education and Sports has promoted her to the title of excellent professor advisor. She is an associate of Music Academy in Zagreb within the subject of «Pedagogical Practice».
Ivanka Kordic frequently serves as a member of the jury at national and international piano competitions.
She is a member of the Croatian Society of Music and Dance Educators and is vice-president of the European Piano Teachers Association Croatia (EPTA Croatia).
Ivanka Kordic raised many generations of young pianists. Her students are winners of over 1000 awards and recognitions in national and international competitions.
Ivanka Kordic has won numerous awards for pedagogical work in the country and abroad.
Goara Lazic
Music High School “Mihailo Vukobratović”, Šabac, Serbia
Goara Nonna Lazic – representative of the Russian piano school. An expert with more than 30 years of work experience in the field of music education.
She was educated in the Soviet Union. She graduated from the eleven-year specialized music school for talents in the city of Odessa. Graduated from the National Academy of Music in Odessa and received qualifications: concert performer, pedagogue, chamber ensemble soloist, accompanist.
In 1992, she moved to Serbia and worked in a secondary music school in Šabac, where she developed her personal pedagogical method based on the best tradition of piano schools.
The collection of diplomas of Goara Lazic and her students is rich with significant numerous awards from national and international competitions in the country and abroad (Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Czech Republic, France, Macedonia, Israel, Austria, Italy).
She raised a constellation of talented students and all her high school students continue their education at Music Academies. In addition to her pedagogical work, she also participated in the work of the jury at numerous competitions in Serbia and abroad. Goara Lazic winner of the award from the Association of Music and Ballet Schools for years of results and investment in musical talents in 2003.
JURY FOR ACCORDION
Andrzej Smolik
State Music School of the 1st and 2nd degree Wanda Kossakowa in Sanok, Poland
Prof.edu. ANDRZEJ SMOLIK
Date of birth: 1952. Graduate: Academy of Music in Krakow and Lublin University Maria Sklodowska-Curie.
Accordion teacher for 40 years, since 1990 headmaster – The State School of Music I and II degree in Sanok. University lecturer: The State Higher Vocational School in Sanok.
His students were the laureates of over 200 international and national competitions including 77 winners for example in Poland, Italy, Germany, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Lithuania, and Spain. In 2013, his student Gajda Seweryn became the absolute winner of INTERNET MUSIC COMPETITION – Belgrade, Serbia in category “Accordion/Bayan.”
He participated in the jury in many competitions in Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Spain and Italy.
He is an organizer and artistic director of the organized since 1988 the International Meetings of Accordionists.
Nguyen Tai Hung
Vietnam National Academy of Music, Hanoi, Vietnam
Nguyen Tai Hung, PhD, associate professor, Head of the Accordion Department of Vietnam National Academy of Music (VNAM).
In 1982 he graduated the elementary music school of VNAM in accordion, the same year, left Vietnam for Russia to continue his studies. In 1988 he graduated from the Gnessin State Music College in Moscow as accordionist (class of Honored cultural worker of Russia Vladimir Motov) and as conductor the orchestra (class of People’s artist of Russia Vladimir Kozhukhar). In 1993 he graduated from the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music (class of People’s artist of Russia, prof. Yury Dranga). In 2007, he successfully defended his doctoral dissertation on the accordion transcription.
Students in class of prof. Nguyen Tai Hung won high places in international music competitions in Switzerland, France, Portugal, Italy, Serbia, Latvia.
Nguyen Tai Hung was engaged as a member of jury on prestigious music competitions such as World Accordion Trophy (CMA); International Accordion Prize of Castelfidardo (PIF), Italy; International accordion competition “Mehfest”, Serbia; Belgrade World open music competition, Serbia; “Concord of Sounds”, Latvia; World accordion contest “Italia Award”, Italy…
Markéta Laštovičková
Music school in Havlíčkův Brod (Czech Republic), assistant teacher at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, Slovakia
Czech accordionist Markéta Laštovičková was born in 1995 in Havlíčkův Brod and began studying the accordion at the age of 5 with her mother Ivana Laštovičková. She studied at the Prague Conservatory with Professor Ladislav Horák (2011-2017), at the Danish National Academy of Music in Odense with Professor Jytte von Rüden (2017-2022) and since 2022 she studies a doctoral program at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava with Professor Boris Lenko.
Markéta is a winner of many national and international competitions (Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovakia, Italy, Russia, Portugal, Germany, Serbia). As a soloist she performed in many world countries, cooperated with various chamber and symphony orchestras.
Markéta is often invited as a member of the jury to various national and international competitions. She is a teacher at the music school in Havlíčkův Brod (Czech Republic) and works as an assistant teacher at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava.
She published 4 books “Simply Happy” with her compositions for accordion. Her works are played in many European countries.
JURY FOR GUITAR
Pierre Bibault
Paris Conservatories, Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles, Paris, France
Pierre Bibault holds a Performer’s Diploma from the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris and three Masters Degrees (Performance – Maastricht, Pedagogy – Liege and Musicology – Sorbonne) and is currently finishing a Ph.D.
Pierre Bibault performs more than 50 concerts a year in various countries: Western and Eastern Europe, United States, Asia, Canada, North Africa. As a soloist, he explores a Contemporary Music repertoire combining classical and electric guitars, electro-acoustics, live electronics, samplers, loopers, and computers.
Since 2002, pedagogy has also been part of Pierre Bibault’s musical life: he has been appointed to the Paris Conservatoires Professor Competition (Cat. A), in the 12th and 16th arrondissements from September 2018, and is a Teacher-Researcher / Assistant Guitar at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels since 2016. He gives Masterclasses and Conferences in France and abroad: Universities, Festivals, Summer Academies, Conservatories, Cultural Institutions www.pierrebibault.com
Adam Levin
University of Rhode Island and also teaches at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, USA
Professor of guitar at the University of Rhode Island and also teaches at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Artistic director of the annual University of Rhode Island Guitar Festival (www.uriguitarfestival.org)
The recipient of numerous top prizes, Adam Levin has been recognized by the Society of American Musicians, the Lake Forest Concerto Competition, Minnesota’s Schubert Competition, Boston GuitarFest, Concurso Internacional de les Corts para Jóvenes Intérpretes in Barcelona, Concurso Internazionale Di Gargnano, and Certamen Internacional Luys Milan de Guitarra in Valencia.
An avid chamber musician, Levin has performed with orchestra, string quartet, and various instrumental and vocal duo combinations.
Anton Črnugelj
Academy of Music in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Anton Črnugelj studied guitar at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, first with Andrej Grafenauer and later with Tomaž Rajterič. During his studies he attended lessons at renowned teachers, such as István Römer, Jordi Codina, Konrad Ragossnig, David Russell and Costas Cotsiolis. As a soloist or a member of various ensembles for different genres, he has performed home and abroad. Additionally, he graduated in electronics at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in Ljubljana.
He teaches guitar at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet in Ljubljana where he is currently a head of department for plucked string instruments.
His pupils have performed publicly with great success, giving concerts around Slovenia, recording radio and television shows and for the archive of the Slovenian national radio, as well as attending international festivals and national and international competitions, where they have won over 60 prizes.
JURY FOR HARP
Wang Guan
China Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM) and principal harpist of China National Symphony Orchestra, Beijing, China
Wang Guan holds the position of harp professor in China Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM) and principal harpist of China National Symphony Orchestra. She is member of the board of directors of the World Harp Congress, and the Secretary General of Harp Society of Chinese Musicians Association. She also earned the titleOne of the Ten Greatest Harpists mentioned by China Central Television (CCTV).
As a teacher and solo harpist, Wang Guan is enthusiastic about promoting the harp and has given lectures and concerts at National Centre for the Performing Arts, Forbidden City Concert Hall, Chongqing Grand Theatre, Shenyang Conservatory of Music, Xinghai Conservatory of Music, Shenzhen Arts School, etc.
She held solo and chamber concerts throughout China with CCTV recorded and broadcasted for multiple times, and also performed numerous concerto concerts with China National Symphony Orchestra, China Youth Symphony Orchestra, Kunming Symphony Orchestra, Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra and many other top ensembles. She was jury of several competitions, including Hongkong International Harp Competition, Rlh International Harp Competition,, the International Harp Competition of CCOM, etc.
Milena Stanisic
Faculty of Music, Belgrade, Serbia
Milena Stanisic is Full Professor of Harp at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade. Previously she held the position of the principal harpist in the Opera Orchestra of the National Theatre in Belgrade (1994-2009). Additionally, she served as the principal harpist of Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra (2002-2005) and played as a member of all orchestras in Serbia, and many in the region.
Stanisic finished her studies of harp with professor Milica Barić at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, and she has spent two years at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, as a recipient of the Headley Trust full scholarship, studying with Mr. Frank Sternefeld. Stanisic successfully finished Doctoral studies under mentorship of professor Ljiljana Nestorovska in 2016.
Stanisic performs regularly as a soloist and chamber musician. She performed on numerous concerts, including performances at the World Harp Congresses in Geneva, Vancouver, Sydney and Hong Kong and at the International harp festivals in Rio de Janeiro and Saint Petersburg (“Northern Lyra”).
She was one of the founders of Serbia Harp Association, and today she is a President of the Association.
Kohar Andonian
The National School of Music “Lyubomir Pipkov”, Sofia, Bulgaria
Kohar Andonian in 1990 she graduated harp and pedagogy in the National Music Academy ”Pancho Vladigerov” in the class of professor Malina Hristova with honours. In 2017 she acquired a PhD degree in the New Bulgarian University.
From 1990 to 1992 she was a solist member of the orchestra in the Musical Theatre ”Stephan Makedonski”. Since 1993 she teaches harp and chamber music in the National Music School ”Lubomir Pipkov”. The pupils of her class are awarded with a multitude of prizes and are laureates of numerous national and international competitions.
Kohar Andonian has several rewards for pedagogical accomplishments and is a performer of UNESCO as Messenger of Peace.
Kohar Andonian performs in her native country Bulgaria, as well as in Italy, Greece, Switzerlad, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Norway, Nederland, Denmark, France, Macedonia and Dubai (S.Arabia).
She has been a member of the jury of several national and international competitions and has participated in numerous festivals such as “Apollonia Festival”, “Skopsko leto”, “Sofia Music Weeks” and “Evmelia Festival”.
JURY FOR VOCAL PERFOMANCE (Classical, pop, jazz, folk and other styles singing)
Lucyna Górska
Secondary Music School in Koszalin, Poland
Lucyna Górska is respected soprano spinto singer endowed with warm and sonorous voice. Its dark timbre, full volume and technical agility result in rich repertoire which consists of classical pieces as well as commercial ones.
She graduated from the Academy of Music in Gdańsk achieving master’s degree in choral conducting and Academy of Music in Poznań in vocal arts with the same degree respectively.
She gained additional vocal qualifications from Jadwiga Dzikówna one of the greatest polish opera divas. Her long-term mentor is Donata Hoppel, outstanding opera singer who has performed in Poland and many other European countries. Except for being a miraculous singer Donata Hoppel is also a splendid singing tutor.
Lucyna Górska took part in many vocal seminars and masterclasses organized by i.a. Anita Garanča, Janusz Niziołek, Marek Rzepka or Hubert Noé. She performed with many music groups in Poland as well as abroad. She regularly performs with Koszalin Symphony Orchestra and all the music groups connected to it such as: „La Donna e Mobile”, „Aremvee”, „Camerata Pomerania” or chamber ensemble „Kamerton”. She performed as the invited solist with „Cantate Deo” choir as well. On a daily basis Lucyna Górska leads a vocal class in Secondary Music School in Koszalin. Her students often finish high in polish and international vocal contests.
Sergej Rupreht
Singing school Orfeus Maribor, Slovenia
After studying music education, Sergej Rupreht decided to study singing at the Music Academy in Ljubljana, where he majored in the class of prof. Barbara Jernejčič Fürst.
Alongside his studies he additionally educated himself by attending seminars – in Slovenia and across Europe – that featured world renowned singing instructors (R. Miller, M. Keenze, M. Lipovšek, C. Spencer…). He also worked with the RTV Slovenia orchestra and accepted the invitation of Jure Ivanušič to cooperate in the production of the documentary Who wants to be Mozart.
The public got to know him – along with wife Petra – as a contestant and finalist of the show Slovenia’s got Talent. As of late they are artistically introducing themselves under the name Petra and Sergej. They added to their classical repertoire by introducing a colorful palette of material from musicals and the crossover program.
As from themselves, they also demand hard work, dedication and love for singing from their students, which is visible also in the successes – live performances and appearances on many festivals across Europe.
Nenad Nenić
High Music School «Kosta Manojlović», Belgrade, Serbia
Nenad Nenić graduated from the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, in the class of prof. Aleksandar Duda Ivanovic.
He enrolled in postgraduate studies in the class of prof. Katice Nikolić and continued in the class of Prof. Aneta Ilić.
He obtained a diploma of Opera Studies under the guidance of prof. Biserke Cvejić and Prof. Borislav Popović.
He attended courses with Maestro of the Roman Opera Carl Ventura and with the famous English soprano Pauline Tinsley.
At the Opera of the National Theater in Belgrade, he performed the roles of Papageno (The Magic Flute), Dandini (Cinderella), Peter (Ivic and Maric) and Šonar (Bohemian). In the Opera and Teatro Madlenianum, he performed the roles of Guglielmo (That’s how they do everything), the King and the Man with the Mule (The Wise Man), Luther, Krespel and Schlemiel (Hoffmann’s Tales), the Marquis (La Traviata), as well as Sharpless (Madame Butterfly).
During his teaching career, his students won numerous awards at competitions of solo singers in Serbia and the region.
JURY FOR DUO, CHAMBER ENSEMBLE, ORCHESTRA, CHOIR AND TRADITIONAL MUSIC
Anzhela Akopyan
Music Academy Metropolitana in Lisbon, Orquestra Metropolitana in Lisbon, Portugal
He started his musical training at the age of seven. In 1979, she was admitted to the P. S. Stolyarski Special Musical School for Gifted Children, Odessa.
She studied in the class of A. V. Pavlov, considered the best teacher in Ukraine.
In the 1989 year, she entered the Nezhdanova Conservatory in Odessa, continuing to study in the class of master A. V. Pavlov.
In 1994 she was invited to work with the Serbian Chamber Orchestra in Belgrade as an instrumentalist and soloist.
At the same time, she devoted herself to musical pedagogy and also played in the State Symphony Orchestra of the Opera Theater in Belgrade.
Has been working at the Orquestra Metropolitana in Lisbon since 1997. Additionally, a professor at the Music Academy Metropolitana in Lisbon with extensive knowledge as a violin and chamber music teacher.
Antonello Timpani
Conservatorio di Musica “Licinio Refice”, Rome Italy
Antonello Timpani graduated in Clarinet at the Conservatory “L. Refice “of Frosinone. He furthered his studies at the Accademia Pescarese and at the Musical Campus of Latina, respectively, with Masters Franco Ferranti and Anthony Pay, obtaining certificates of merit.
He performs both as soloist and in chamber groups: has performed at prestigious concert halls in Italy (Sala Baldini, Palazzo Barberini, Aula Magna of the University La Sapienza of Rome, Conservatory of Reggio Calabria, Lamezia Terme Theatre, etc. ..) and abroad (Israel, Czech Republic, Spain, Luxembourg , Lithuania).
He spends much attention for years to amateur musical bands, trying to spread mainly original music for banda, both as a conductor, as a clarinetist and a composer. It ‘s often invited to be part of committees of national competitions. Since 2002 Professor of Clarinet, first in the Conservatory of Reggio Calabria and then in the Conservatory of Frosinone.
Pawel Bortnowski
Zespół Państwowych Szkół Muzycznych im. G. Bacewicz, Koszalin, Poland
Paweł Bortnowski (Murawski until 2016) was born in 1968 in Lviv in a family of musicians. In 1975 he started music education in Flory Strelcowa class at the Music School in Kiev.In 1983 he continued his education in M. Lysenko Specialized Secondary Music School in Kiev in the class of prof. Igor Riabow, which he graduated in 1988 in the class of his father’s, Aleksander Murawski.
In the same year, he began studying in Kiev at the Petro Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine, continuing his studies in his father’s class.
After graduating in the class of prof. Galina Neporozna, in 1994 he left for Poland.
He continued his pedagogical activity in the State Music School Complex in Koszalin and the State Music School of the first and second degree in Szczecinek. His pupils actively participate in nationwide and international competitions, winning numerous awards and distinctions.
Paweł Bortnowski is also involved in methodological activities, conducting open classes, consultations, and he also developed his signature curriculum at the second-degree school in Szczecinek.
In 2017, he received the first degree state award of Center for Artistic Education for overall pedagogical and performance activity.
Markéta Laštovičková
Music school in Havlíčkův Brod (Czech Republic), assistant teacher at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, Slovakia
Czech accordionist Markéta Laštovičková was born in 1995 in Havlíčkův Brod and began studying the accordion at the age of 5 with her mother Ivana Laštovičková. She studied at the Prague Conservatory with Professor Ladislav Horák (2011-2017), at the Danish National Academy of Music in Odense with Professor Jytte von Rüden (2017-2022) and since 2022 she studies a doctoral program at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava with Professor Boris Lenko.
Markéta is a winner of many national and international competitions (Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovakia, Italy, Russia, Portugal, Germany, Serbia). As a soloist she performed in many world countries, cooperated with various chamber and symphony orchestras.
Markéta is often invited as a member of the jury to various national and international competitions. She is a teacher at the music school in Havlíčkův Brod (Czech Republic) and works as an assistant teacher at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava.
She published 4 books “Simply Happy” with her compositions for accordion. Her works are played in many European countries.
Miomir Simonovic
Faculty of Music, Belgrade, Serbia
Miomir Simonovic graduated and got his M.A. at the Faculty of Musical Arts in Belgrade, in the class Tahir Kulenović, prof.
He went to H. Berlioz Conservatory (Pariz, France) as a scholar of the Foundation for Scientific and Artistic Youth of Serbia.
In 1997 he was elected Assistant for the flute at the Faculty of Music Arts in Belgrade.
He was re-elected for the same position in 2001, and in 2003 he was elected Docent for the flute at the Faculty of Music Arts in Belgrade.
He has held over 50 recitals so far, some in Belgrade and Serbia, some in France and Spain.His students have won over 100 awards in festivals, state, country and international competitions.
He was awarded several times for his outstanding pedagogical results, once by the Union of Associations of Music and Ballet Pedagogues of Serbia for his pedagogical results over the years, awarded to him as the youngest professor since the award has been established.