Guitarist Ana Gorjanc (2000) began her musical journey at the Kranj Music School under the mentorship of prof. Nataša Bogataj. For her achievements, she was awarded the Grand Prize of the Kranj Music School. After enrolling at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Ljubljana, she continued her studies in the class of prof. Igor Saje. During her education, she performed at various concerts, won top prizes at competitions, and recorded with RTV Slovenia. For her accomplishments at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Ljubljana, she was also awarded the Škerjanc Prize. Additionally, she is a two-time recipient of the Mladi upi scholarship from Triglav Insurance Company.
In July 2023, she completed her Bachelor studies at the Higher Conservatory of Music in Vigo, Spain, under prof. Margarita Escarpa, and participated in an Erasmus+ exchange program in the class of prof. Laura Young at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. During her studies 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 Higher Conservatory in Vigo (2021). In a duo with flutist Lara Raña Barreiro, she also won first prize at the chamber music competition of the Higher Conservatory in Vigo (2020). As a soloist, she won first prize and, in a duo with Katarina Jakša, third prize at the Giovanni Musicisti Treviso competition (2023). In addition to competitions, she recorded a concert with Glasbena Mladina Ljubljanska at the Philharmonic Hall as part of the Prisluhnimo series, performed at the EGT Day concert, and participated in the Women’s Voices project at the Mozarteum. 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 achieved second place at the Velespaña competition (2023) and first prize at the TEMSIG competition (2024). She also performed a concert as part of the Mlada slovenska klasika series.
In the AdArt duo with Staš Čakš, she has achieved notable success over the past two years, earning two third prizes at the Zé Gregorio competition in Portugal and the Enrico Mercatali competition in Gorizia, Italy (2023), as well as first prize at the 1st International Chamber Music Competition with Guitar Jornadas Internacionales de Guitarra de Elda in Spain. The duo also performed concerts at the Rok’s Summer Festival 2023 and the Lent Festival 2024.
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.