Tilen Slakan (1993) is one of the most notable young Slovenian composers. He graduated in trumpet at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana in the class of prof. Stanko Arnold, and at the same time he studies composition, enrolling in the course of music-theoretical pedagogy, the course in composition with prof. Marko Mihevac. He continues his doctoral studies under the mentorship of Dr. Andrej Misson. His works are performed by orchestras such as the Slovenian Philharmonic String Orchestra, Zarja Šoštaj Wind Orchestra, Academic Symphony Orchestra, Camerata Laibach, Brass Band Slovenia, etc., as well as numerous chamber ensembles, choirs and soloists. The composition A Sense of the Wind for wind sextet was created in 2024 on the order of the Camerata Academica wind sextet. According to the composer, "it is a composition of a moving and virtuosic character. The source of inspiration comes from the very characteristics of the wind instruments, in their excellent technical capabilities and abilities of an exceptional legate. The composition is basically built from two opposing themes that the composer processes and intertwines with different compositional techniques. The form is free, but clear and transparent, and the harmonic language goes from bitonal sonority to fourth-fifth harmony."

One of the most important members of the generation of German composers, which appeared soon after the death of Wagner and Brahms, is Richard Strauss (1864-1949). His long artistic career is one of those that most significantly marked the times of change in music, giving them their impetus opera opus and symphonic songs, as well as a series of solo songs. Already before the age of twenty, he composed numerous solo songs that remain permanently in the repertoire, as well as a number of overtures, marches, two symphonies, and a concerto for violin and horn. Serenade for wind instruments in E flat major, Op. 7 from 1881. Although at that moment Strauss was already on the way to independence from the influence of his musically conservative father and first teachers, having already listened to many Wagner operas, the influences of first role models such as Mendelssohn or Mozart are still present in this early work. The serenade is a kind of homage to Strauss's father, Franz, who was one of the best horn players in Europe. The one-movement Andante exudes a lovely elegance and beautiful harmonies (in the original version for thirteen brass players), which already hint at his exceptional sense of orchestration. It was first performed under the direction of one of the most respected conductors, also Strauss' mentor in conducting, Hans von Bülow.

The music of Marko Mihevac (1957) "is often programmatically conceived, although it does not actually tell a specific story. It is more about a dramatic impulse and a well-thought-out concept of using musical elements." This is what his student, also composer Črt Sojar Voglar, writes about him. After completing composition and then conducting at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, Marko Mihevc is improving his skills in Vienna. He is also the initiator of numerous musical events in Slovenia, at one time the president of the Society of Slovenian Composers, and a professor at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. Numerous awards crown his rich work. The composition Mirador was created in 2024 at the instigation of the Camerata Academica ensemble. As the composer describes, the piece was inspired by a viewpoint: "If a person goes to Barcelona, ​​he can climb the hill where Mirador Park is located. It looks more like a forest than a park, and from its position above the city it offers the most beautiful view in Barcelona. The park and its beauty is the basis of the three-movement composition by composer Marko Mihevac. The themes of the first and last movement are of a dance character, while the second movement is more meditative with many musical melismas."

One of the greatest and most versatile composers of the second half of the 19th century, Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904), brings with his symphonic opus the most significant counterbalance to German creativity, introducing a recognizable Slavic element into the traditional German symphonic form. Versatile as a composer, he left works of exceptional quality in the field of concert, chamber and solo music, opera, as well as a number of oratorio-type works. Serenade for winds, cello and double bass in D minor, Op. 44, composed in 1878, is one of the compositions that brought Dvořák international fame. The compositions sent to the competition for the Austrian State Scholarship meet with the enthusiastic approval of Brahms, who gives a great boost to Dvořák's recognition in the widest musical circles. Stylized elements in it, such as marching rhythms or dance rhythms, filled with melismas, evoke the archaism of court music, while the softness of the melodies indicates Dvořák's delicate connection with Slavic folklore. The development brings dramatic accents as in Dvořák's great symphonic works. Imitations of the sound of nature, fanfare, signals, such as a hunting horn, pastoralism, all these are part of Dvořák's musical language, which can also be heard in this work.

Zrinka Matić

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The Camerata Academica Ljubljana ensemble gathers top Slovenian musicians, i.e. professors from the Academy of Music in Ljubljana and members of the Slovenian Philharmonic. The composition of the ensemble resulted from the desire for artistic collaboration between top educators and professional musicians who refine their pedagogical work with artistic projects. Camerata was conceived as an ensemble with a variable composition, and on this occasion they perform as a wind sextet, an atypical wind ensemble, more adapted to contemporary works, which require a high level of technical precision, skillful collective musicianship and convincing stage presence. Many works were composed especially for the Camerata ensemble, which during the next year plans to record an album of new compositions commissioned from seven Slovenian composers, among which are works by Marko Mihevac and Tilen Slakan, which will have their premieres at a concert in Split.

Already during her studies, Karolina Šantl Zupan received several first prizes at various national and international competitions, including the prestigious Prešeren Prize. She started her professional career at the Slovenian Philharmonic. She collaborated with the Ljubljana Opera and Ballet Orchestra, JuJu (South Korea) and the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Zagreb Soloists. As a soloist, chamber musician and member of the international flute quartet 4Syrinx, she has released eight albums. In the research area, he deals with the interaction between artistic and pedagogical education.

The world-famous oboist Matej Šarc started his musical journey on the accordion and piano. Before going to study abroad, he played solo oboe with the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, collaborated with the German Youth Philharmonic and the Freiburg Philharmonic. After returning to Slovenia, he joined the Slovenian Philharmonic, first as an oboist and then as artistic director. He is the founder of the Slowind quintet and the contemporary music festival of the same name. He is also a professor at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet and at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana.

Jože Kotar became the principal clarinetist of the Symphony Orchestra of RTV Slovenia in 2007, after holding that role in the Slovenian Philharmonic for more than ten years. He is a regular professor at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. As a soloist and member of chamber ensembles, he performs throughout Europe and the USA. He has recorded eleven albums, including four solo discs, and is a member of the ARIART Woodwind Quintet, the Slovenian Clarinet Sextet and the founder of the Slovenian Clarinet Orchestra.

Bassoonist Zoran Mitev studied at the College of Music and Performing Arts in Graz and the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, from which he received special recognition and two Prešern awards. He is a member of the wind quintet SLOWIND, the Pro Musica Nova trio, the Slovenian Philharmonic Wind Trio and the OFF trio. So far, he has performed more than forty solo and chamber works.

Jože Rošer is a solo horn player in the Slovenian Philharmonic and an assistant professor at his first alma mater, the Academy of Arts. He also studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and the Music School in Stuttgart. He is the winner of two student Prešern awards: with the wind ensemble of the Academy of Music and the Chamber String Orchestra of the Slovenian Philharmonic. He collaborated with many international orchestras.

Sax magazine declared Miha Rogina the best saxophonist of his generation. He studied in Ljubljana, at the prestigious Paris Conservatory, and at the Eastman School of Music in the USA. Furthermore, he graduated in orchestral and choral conducting at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. He is a saxophone professor and vice-dean at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, and performs as a soloist and conducts renowned orchestras.

Tilen Slakan: A Sense of the Wind (first performance)

Richard Strauss: Serenade Op. 7 (arr. Zoran Mitev)

Marko Muni Mihevc: Mirador (first performance)

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Antonín Dvořák: Serenade in C minor, Op. 44 (arr. Zoran Mitev)

Moderato, quasi marcia

Tempo di minuet

Andante con motto

Final - Allegro molto