Aljaž Cvirn (SLO/CH), Guitar duo AdArt (SLO)
Aljaž Cvirn
Aljaž Cvirn (1992) is a Slovenian classical guitarist, who lives and works in Switzerland. After finishing his studies at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, Züricher Hochschule der Künste and Musik Akademie Basel, Aljaž currently teaches guitar at the Musikschule Konservatorium Zürich and at the Kantonsschule Uster. At the same time, he is an active musician who regularly performs as a soloist and in different chamber music ensembles.
He has performed throughout Europe; in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Croatia and Slovenia, where he participated in various festivals such as Zürich Guitar Days, Luzerne Guitar Festival, Postojna Guitar Week and Stradivari Stiftung. His performances have taken place in many different venues, such as The Slovenian Philharmonic, Slovene National Theatre Maribor and Luzerne Symphony Orchestra concert hall. He has participated in many national and international music competitions and has won more than 10 first, second, third and special prizes.
His guitar repertoire is very diverse. He performs classical works of all periods from the Renaissance and the Baroque to the modern period of the 20th century music. A large part of his repertoire consists of chamber music in different ensembles.
In 2018 he recorded his debut CD »Sonatas for violoncello and guitar«, together with the German cellist Isabel Gehweiler. In 2020 he participated in the recording of the CD of the violinist Tanja Sonc, under the sponsorship of Bank of Slovenia. In 2023 his CD “Duality” was released by the German label Solo Musica.
In recent years he has established himself as a convincing music reproducer and chamber musician who is, in the opinion of the professional public, recognized for the perfection of his performance, deliberate style and innovative interpretational ideas. Since 2023 Aljaž is a part of the D´addario artist roster.
Duo AdArt began their musical journey in September 2022. Within one year of activity, they took part in the 1st International “Zé Gregorio” Competition in Lagoa, Portugal, and the 20th International Altamira “Enrico Mercatali” Competition in Gorizia, Italy, where they won third prizes at both competitions. In November 2024 they received first prize at the 1st International Chamber Music Competition with Guitar “Jornadas Internacionales de Guitarra de Elda” in Spain, in August 2025 second prize at the prestigious 14th Martínez Competition in Iserlohn, Germany, and in November 2025 first prize at the Savarez-Corelli Competition in Salzburg, Austria. In addition to competitions, they have also performed concerts within the Rokovo poletje 2023 series, the Lent Festival 2024, and the Jornadas Internacionales de Guitarra de Elda Festival 2025. Both members of the duo are award recipients of the Lions Club Poreč.
Guitarist Ana Gorjanc (2000) began her musical journey at the Kranj Music School under the mentorship of professor 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 (Slovenia), she continued her musical path in the class of professor Igor Saje. For her achievements during her studies at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet in Ljubljana, she was also awarded the Škerjanec Prize. She is also a two-time recipient of the Young Talents scholarship of Triglav Insurance Company.
In July 2023 she completed her undergraduate studies at the Higher Conservatory of Music in Vigo, Spain, in the class of prof. Margarita Escarpa. During her years of study in Spain, among other awards, she received second prize at the International Guitar Competition in Montenegro and second prize at the Soloists Competition of the Higher Conservatory in Vigo, first prize at the Chamber Music Competition of the Higher Conservatory in Vigo, and first prize at the Giovanni Musicisti Treviso Competition. In addition to competitions, she recorded a concert with Music youth Ljubljana at the Philharmonic Hall and performed a concert at Egta's day.
In October 2025 she finished her master’s studies at the Mozarteum University Salzburg, Austria in the class of prof. Laura Young. During her studies at the Mozarteum she achieved second place at the Velespaña Competition (2023), first prize at Slovenian national Competition (2024), a special prize at the International Competition in Sinaia, Romania, and first prize with 100 points at the Guitar Days Krško (2025), Slovenia. She has also performed a concert in the cycle Young Slovenian Classics, was for several years part of the Women’s Voices project, performed a series of concerts within Music Youth Slovenia, a concert within the Ljubljana Festival, the Guitar Week in Postojna, the Guitar Master Lago d’Orta Festival in Italy, and the GitarISTRA Festival in Vrsar, Croatia, and was part of Live Music Now Salzburg. In cooperation with the University Mozarteum she released her first album Homage to Art. Currently she is teaching at the private music school Arsem in Ljubljana and studying pedagogy at Academy for music Ljubljana in class of prof. Tomaž Rajterič.
Guitarist Staš Čakš (1997) began playing the guitar at the age of six at the music schools in Rogaška Slatina and Maribor under the mentorship of professor Anja Pirjevec. After completing elementary music school, he continued his education at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Maribor, where he further developed his guitar skills under the mentorship of professor Vojko Vešligaj.
At the age of eight he took part in his first international competition, where he received a gold award and second prize. He is the recipient of numerous awards at competitions in Slovenia, Italy, Serbia, the Czech Republic, and Croatia. He has given several solo recitals and performed as a soloist with the Feguš Quartet, the guitar orchestra of the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Maribor, and the accordion orchestra of the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. In 2016 he received the Dr. Roman Klasinc Award, awarded by the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Maribor.
After finishing secondary school, he continued his studies at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana under the mentorship of professor Tomaž Rajterič, where he graduated with honors. During his studies at the academy he won second prize at the national “TEMSIG” Competition and performed Astor Piazzolla’s Double Concerto for Guitar and Bandoneon together with accordionist Rok Fišer and the chamber string orchestra of the Academy of Music. This year he received third prize at the “Ida Presti” Competition in Croatia and first prize at the “Dnevi kitare” (Guitar Days) Competition in Krško. In addition to competitions, he shared a concert with the world-renowned guitarist Marcin Dylla and performed at the GitarISTRA Festival. In June 2025 he completed his master’s studies at the Zürich University of the Arts under the mentorship of professors Anders Miolin and Vojin Kocić. Staš Čakš teaches at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Maribor.
PROGRAM
Alessandro Marcello (1669 - 1747) / Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750):
CONCERTO FOR OBOE AND STRINGS in d-minor (arr. Drew Henderson)
Andante spiccatto
Adagio
Presto
Gioachino Rossini (1792 - 1868): OVERTURE from the opera The barber of Seville (arr. Mauro Giuliani)
Ida Presti (1924 - 1967): DANSE D'AVILA
Joaquín Turina (1882 - 1949): DANZAS FANTÁSTICAS (arr. Duo AdArt)
Exaltación
Ensueño
Orgí