VITA PETERLIN, cello
ŽAN TROBAS, accordion

DENDROCOPOS DUO
Jan Čibej, percussions
Luka Poljanec, percussions

Programme                                                                      

J. S. Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba in G major No. 1, BWV 1027
R. Schumann: 5 Stücke im Volkston, Op. 102
I. Stravinski, arr. Žan Trobas, Vita Peterlin: Tango
A. Piazzolla: Le Grand Tango

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J. ter Veldhuis: Goldrush
K. Abe: Wind Sketch II
N. J. Živković: Ultimatum II

Duo Vita & Žan consists of a pair of promising young musicians who began making music together approximately two years ago at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria. They have performed regularly at various venues both in Slovenia and around Europe, including: Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition Vienna, ALBA International Chamber Music Festival 2016 (Levico Terme and Toscolano Maderno), Estate Musicale del Conservatorio 2016 (Mantua), Internationale Musikwoche Großlobming, Redoute 2016 (Graz), Lent Festival (Maribor), Grobnik Festival (Rijeka), Château de Bourgon (France), Salieri-Zinetti Competition Festival (Verona). Their repertoire ranges from the baroque to contemporary music, with tango running through it as a common thread (they can also adapt their programme to specific requirements). They describe their music and their instruments as follows: “The cello and the accordion… At first glance an unusual combination but one that offers a perfect blend of sounds. The tender, soft sound of the cello blends with the colourful harmonies of the accordion and creates a contrast that is also a place where respect for art and love of music can meet. The expectations that society places on us – or that we place on ourselves – in today’s world can lead to confusion and cause us to forget the genuine feelings that are connected with creativity. Music can act as a kind of therapy that soothes us and takes us back to our roots. It can fill us with feelings that are difficult to describe. Society needs people who spread love and tranquillity. We are happy when we are able to offer this most sensuous and intangible of gifts to people.”

Duo Dendrocopos consists of the young percussionists Jan Čibej and Luka Poljanec. Luka Poljanec is currently completing his studies at the Ljubljana Conservatory of Music and Ballet, while Jan Čibej is a first-year student at the Ljubljana Academy of Music. In April 2017 they accepted the challenge of their teacher and mentor S. Klavžar and began preparing as a duo for the International Percussion Competition Luxembourg (IPCL), the prestigious chamber percussion ensemble competition held in Luxembourg every three years. Their performances at the competition in February 2018 convinced jury and public alike, and they achieved a remarkable success. They were named Percussion Duo Laureates 2018 and won both the overall first prize and the Jean Gieres Audience Prize. In March 2018 they entered the Svirél International Music Competition in the woodwind, brass and percussion chamber groups category, won a gold plaque as best in category and performed at the final “Ten of the Best” concert. Both began playing percussion at a very young age and although they are still students they have already scored enviable successes in national and international competitions. They have regularly participated in additional training, for example at the Nebojša Jovan Živković Summer Academy, the International Katarzyna Myćka Marimba Academy in Hanover, KALIMA and the Amsterdam Marimba Weekend. They have attended masterclasses with world-famous teachers and percussionists.