Contemporary musik Koper

At the first concert, with the help of the performers, listeners will initially explore the fundamental musical elements (melody, rhythm, harmony, form) and various performance techniques (agogics, timbral possibilities of individual instruments). Additionally, they will be introduced to the basics of standard and non-standard notation. In the concluding part of the concert, children will have the opportunity to create their own compositions, which will then be performed by the ensemble members.

At the second concert, high school students will be introduced to a selection of compositions created within the past three years. These works were developed specifically for performing musicians through the programs of the .abeceda Institute. Each performance will be preceded by a brief introduction by the moderator, including questions for the performer and/or composer. Following the performance, there will be an opportunity for audience members to ask questions about the piece.

 

.abeceda [new music ensemble] is an ensemble of young professional musicians, active as a part of the .abeceda Institute since 2020. The ensemble, specializing in participating in the latest musical productions, also represents a broader platform that is firmly embedded in the operation of the entire institute. In this regard, it offers an infrastructural base that enables composers to create, test, and ultimately also present new works and projects.  

Domen Kužnar (1998) is violist and composer. He is currently studying viola at the Academy of Music at the University of Ljubljana with Prof. Maja Rome. As part of the Erasmus+ exchange program, he studied at the Icelandic University of the Arts with professors Þórunn Ósk Marínósdóttir and Svava Bernharðsdóttir. He is a member of the Transposition String Quartet+ and .abeceda [new music ensemble]. Among his mentors are Nabuko Imao, Emile Cantor, Peter Barszony, Garth Knox, Atar Arad, Vincent Royer, Helfried Fister, and Dré A. Hočevar.

Urban Megušar (1997) is a cellist and composer. With his curious nature, Urban strives to uncover the endless possibilities offered by his instrument. His compositional work is based on compositions for solo cello, exploring the instrument's capabilities and encouraging and developing the performer's virtuosity. As a cellist, Urban focuses on chamber music and performing new music. He has performed at venues and festivals such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Konzerthaus Berlin, Wien Modern, Music Biennale Zagreb, Seirisches Kammermusik Festival, Ljubljana Festival, Ascoli Piceno Festival, Forum for New Music, and .abeceda Festival. As a member of Trio Tempestoso, he received the Boris Pergamenschikow Award for Contemporary Music in 2019 and the Dwight & Ursula Mamlok Award in 2022. He is a founding member of Trio Lumi, with whom they released their debut album Tere Tere in 2021. Urban regularly collaborates with living composers and focuses on performing new solo cello works. After completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, he is undertaking  his master's studies in music performance with an individual concentration at the Norwegian Academy of Music and a master's degree in chamber music at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin. His mentors include Špela Kermelj, Karmen Pečar Koritnik, Julian Arp, Tanja Orning, Dré A. Hočevar, Martin Spangenberg, Klemens Bittmann, and Frances-Marie Uitti.

Urška Rihtaršič (1990) is a harpist and musicologist, primarily working in the field of contemporary classical music. As a student at the University of Ljubljana, she was the recipient of two Prešeren Awards; the first was received as a harpist, and the second as a graduate in sociology and musicology. Currently, she is a doctoral student in musicology and collaborates with the .abeceda Institute, the New Music Forum festival, and the Carpe artem chamber music series. As a harpist, she is a member of new music ensembles such as Neofonía, .abeceda [new music ensemble], the New Music Forum ensemble, chamber groups and orchestras of the Slovenian Chamber Music Theatre as well as various formations of the independent production.

Mauricio Valdés San Emeterio (1976) has a career which has evolved around various artistic disciplines, with an emphasis on acoustic, electroacoustic, and experimental music. His body of work is wide and varied, consisting of solo instrumental performance, ensemble composition, mixed media, guided improvisation, installation, performance, cinema, and a variety of stage arts. His works have been featured in 19 countries as part of the official program of various festivals, conferences, and symposiums, mostly focusing on music and sound art. Designing Immersive studio technologies and content for production with tools, venues, and formats has recently become his main area of work as curator and head of R&D at HEKA Lab in Koper, Slovenia.  


The concerts of .abeceda [ensemble for new music] are co-financed by the Ministry of culture of the Republic of Slovenia.