Amadej Štrajhar, trumpet & Neja Anderle, saxophone (4th Concert of International Music Cycle Young Virtuosi)

Amadej Štrajhar, born in 2004 in Celje, became fascinated by the sound of the trumpet at the age of four. He began his musical journey at Šentjur Music School under Boštjan Jager. He completed his studies at the Ljubljana Conservatory of Music and Ballet last year under Matjaž Jevšnikar, and is currently in his first year at the Ljubljana Academy of Music, studying under Jure Gradišnik. He has recorded a 30-minute programme for trumpet and piano for RTV Slovenia, and been a guest in the Young Virtuosi section of the ARS radio station. He has also taken part in the prestigious Concertino Praga Competition and appeared with Jeunesses Musicales Ljubljana. His proudest achievements are receiving a Škerjanc Award in 2021 and appearing as a soloist with the Ljubljana Conservatory of Music and Ballet Wind Orchestra. In addition to his regular education, Amadej has also studied with renowned teachers at home and abroad, including Roman Rindberger, Jürgen Ellensohn, Marco Pierobon, Kirill Soldatov, Gábor Tarkövi, Balázs Nemes, Marco Bellini, Jure Gradišnik, Tibor Kerekeš and Stanko Arnold.

Neja Anderle, born in 2003, began her musical journey at the age of ten. In 2015 she took part in her first competition, where she took the gold plaque when barely 12 years old. She was awarded a gold plaque and first place at the 2016 TEMSIG competition, and second place at the Svirél Competition. In 2017 she took part in the Femus Competition in Subotica, where she received a maximum 100 points, a gold plaque and first place in her category. She was also subsequently announced as the overall winner of the competition. That same year, with another 100-point tally, she won first prize and a gold plaque at the Svirél Competition. In 2018 she was again awarded a gold plaque at the Emona International Wind Festival, and was accepted into the Ljubljana Conservatory of Music and Ballet. She received a Škerjanc Award in 2020 and holds a Ministry of Culture Scholarship. In 2021 she received a special prize at the Josip Nochta Competition in Zagreb. That same year, she recorded a recital at the Slovenian Philharmonic Hall as part of Jeunesses Musicales Ljubljana and was selected as one of the winners of the Young Hopes 2021 Competition. In March 2022 she joined the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, where she studies under Vincent David. Between 2018 and 2022 she was leader of the SOS Junior Youth Saxophone Orchestra, and appeared as a soloist with the Radovljica Music School Youth Wind Orchestra, the Jesenice-Kranjska Gora Wind Orchestra, the Krka Wind Orchestra and the Wind Orchestra of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.