NINA STRNAD

“…and it felt like the sun finally appeared.” This is how Mojmir Sepe, one of Slovene’s most respected composers, in one of his interviews, described the moment when Nina Strnad took to the stage during the concert of the European Jazz Orchestra. So far she has shared the stage with Danny Grisset, Howard T. Curtis, Jure Pukl, Renato Chicco, Uroš Perić and many others. She perceives her guest appearance at one of the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra concerts, as one of her greatest achievements because she shared the stage with the legendary musical composer and jazz pianist, Michel Legrand, who also won 3 Oscars. Among the musicians who profoundly influenced her artistic expression, her longtime colleague Peter Mihelič, with whom she prepared the album In the light of life: the stories of the Slovenian pop-song (ZKP RTV Slovenija, 2016) with selected compositions of six authors, should also be added. Nina has regular guest appearances at festivals, concert cycles and events that revive jazz music and the golden age of Slovene pop music. She often works with RTV Slovenia Big Band and performs abroad. Due to her pure and clear articulation and sensual interpretations, Nina Strnad’s work is recognized by both the general public as well as the professional public. She was selected as Slovenia’s representative in the European Jazz Orchestra (2010) and at the BT River of Music in London Festival, while she received the best soloist award at the 4th National gathering of Big Bands and Dance Orchestras (2009). She also won the best soloist award in the Young Talent Category at the international Austrian Marianne Mendt Jazz Festival (2014) and was among the top 15 competitors at the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz competition (2014).

SAMO IVAČIČ

Samo Ivačič graduated first in music pedagogy at University of Maribor and then also in singing at Music Academy of University of Ljubljana. He actively participated in various international workshops and master classes of different styles (B. Harris, R. Bargat, S. Zegree, A. Jalkeus, A. Di Giorgio, R. Chicco, C. Munzer, G. Glaze, G. Graden, E. Ericson, D. Vejzović, K. Richter). As a soloist he performed across Slovenia and abroad and collaborated with various chamber ensembles and orchestras.

Today he focuses intensely on modern jazz singing and collaborates with different musicians and groups. He also works as pianist, conductor, arranger and composer. Many Slovenian and international vocal groups and choirs regularly include his arrangements into their repertoire. He works as a singing teacher and coaches various singing seminars and workshops. He regularly expands his skills under guidance of Grammy award winners New York Voices.