3rd Saturday
10th of April 2027
Nejc Kuhar,
Eminent Duo
CHAMBER MUSIC
We have had the pleasure to host Nejc Kuhar at Guitar Styria before. In the Festival edition of the year 2026 he was astonishing young guitar soloists with his knowledge and experience during masterclasses. But did you know his knowledge extends the limit of the solo program and goes into chamber music as well? Not only is he a great chamber music partner but also a composer for different chamber music ensembles. Why not learn the tricks of the trade directly from him and improve your own ensembles? In the afternoon we will have the pleasure of hearing him play in a duo with Moeko Sugiura.
Nejc Kuhar
Nejc Kuhar (Slovenia) finished his Masters degree in guitar at Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts with prof. Alvaro Pierri and his Masters degree in composition with Dr. Reiner Bishof and prof. Christian Minkowitsch at Konservatorium Wien, Privatuniversität, both with honours. In 2023 he finished with Music Research PhD at Surrey university with prof. Steve Goss.
As a guitarist as well as a composer, he won numerous prizes (1st prizes in Germany, China, Italy, Turkey, USA, etc.), he was also a scholarship holder of Slovenian Culture Ministry and of Gallus Foundation. His music has been performed by himself and/or other musicians in various venues, including Musikverein and Konzerthaus in Vienna, Washington National Gallery of Art, Rachmaninov Hall of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Slovene Philharmonic Hall, etc. His commissions include those by the Washington National Gallery of Art, Frankfurt Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst, LiGITa, Hong Kong and Sarajevo Guitar Festivals, Signum Saxophone Quartet, guitarist Mak Grgić, organist Stephen Ackert, Four Aces Guitar Quartet and others.
Nejc Kuhar
Nejc Kuhar (Slovenia) finished his Masters degree in guitar at Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts with prof. Alvaro Pierri and his Masters degree in composition with Dr. Reiner Bishof and prof. Christian Minkowitsch at Konservatorium Wien, Privatuniversität, both with honours. In 2023 he finished with Music Research PhD at Surrey university with prof. Steve Goss.
As a guitarist as well as a composer, he won numerous prizes (1st prizes in Germany, China, Italy, Turkey, USA, etc.), he was also a scholarship holder of Slovenian Culture Ministry and of Gallus Foundation. His music has been performed by himself and/or other musicians in various venues, including Musikverein and Konzerthaus in Vienna, Washington National Gallery of Art, Rachmaninov Hall of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Slovene Philharmonic Hall, etc. His commissions include those by the Washington National Gallery of Art, Frankfurt Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst, LiGITa, Hong Kong and Sarajevo Guitar Festivals, Signum Saxophone Quartet, guitarist Mak Grgić, organist Stephen Ackert, Four Aces Guitar Quartet and others.
Kuhar’s works have also been published by the renowned publishing houses, such as Les Production d'Oz/Doberman-yppan (Canada), Trekel (Germany) and Berben (Italy), some of which are recorded on his debut CD from ZKP Label, entitled "String modulations", featuring guitar virtuoso Mak Grgić. Nejc is regularly performing solo concerts, in duo Eminent Duo with violinist Moeko Sugiura, teaching master classes, giving lectures, as well as being member of juries on various international guitar festivals (LiGiTa in Liechtenstein, Forum Wien, Taiwan Guitar Festival, Sarajevo, Seckau, Postojna Guitar Festival in Slovenia). His concerts have a special charm and uniqueness due to his interpretations of his own compositions.
In 2019 he was appointed Associate Professor for guitar and contemporary music at University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna and in 2018 Guitar Professor at Joseph Haydn Private University in Eisenstadt. Besides his activities as guitarist, composer and teacher, he is also an active lecturer, giving lectures about composing for guitar on various European and USA Universities, such as The Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Vienna and Frankfurt Universities, etc…
“Kuhar’s pieces were eclectic and fun...” (Washington Post)
“… Nejc Kuhar’s compositions have a strong personality and he plays them excellent. Bravo.” (Roland Dyens, guitarist/composer)
The international prizes, glowing reviews (Washington Post, Classical Guitar Magazine, Los Angeles Daily News etc.) and the very response of the audience at home and abroad all point to an artist in the round, successfully negotiating the joined path of composition and interpretation.
http://www.nejckuhar.com/
http://www.eminentduo.com/
Eminent Duo
EMINENT DUO (www.eminentduo.com) began as a Baroque music project in Vienna, where both musicians completed their studies: the Japanese violinist Moeko Sugiura and the Slovenian guitarist and composer Nejc Kuhar. Soon after their successful debut, they continued performing together and achieved success at international chamber music competitions:
1st Prize 2018 | Aschaffenburg International Chamber Music Competition, Germany
1st Prize 2017 | Berlin Rising Stars Grand Prix, Germany
1st Prize 2016 | “Paganini Festival” Competition, Italy
1st Prize 2016 | “Enrico Mercatali” Competition, Italy
1st Prize 2016 | “Twents” Competition, Netherlands
1st Prize 2015 | “Balle/Vale” Competition, Croatia
They soon began performing extensively, taking them to Asia, Europe, and the USA. EMINENT DUO is also highly active in commissioning and performing newly composed works (including compositions by Nejc) as well as other repertoire from the 20th and 21st centuries ...
Eminent Duo
EMINENT DUO (www.eminentduo.com) began as a Baroque music project in Vienna, where both musicians completed their studies: the Japanese violinist Moeko Sugiura and the Slovenian guitarist and composer Nejc Kuhar. Soon after their successful debut, they continued performing together and achieved success at international chamber music competitions:
1st Prize 2018 | Aschaffenburg International Chamber Music Competition, Germany
1st Prize 2017 | Berlin Rising Stars Grand Prix, Germany
1st Prize 2016 | “Paganini Festival” Competition, Italy
1st Prize 2016 | “Enrico Mercatali” Competition, Italy
1st Prize 2016 | “Twents” Competition, Netherlands
1st Prize 2015 | “Balle/Vale” Competition, Croatia
They soon began performing extensively, taking them to Asia, Europe, and the USA. EMINENT DUO is also highly active in commissioning and performing newly composed works (including compositions by Nejc) as well as other repertoire from the 20th and 21st centuries.
Moeko Sugiura studied at the Tokyo University of Arts (BA) and on the Konservatorium Privatuniversität in Vienna with Thomas Christian and Pavel Vernikov, where she finished her Master with excellence in 2015.
During her studies she regularly played with the Wiener Symphoniker, with which she toured Japan, Germany, and played concerts in the Wiener Musikverein with renowned conductors. While studying she received the 1st prizes at the Edogawa Philharmonic Orchestra Soloist Competition, Kobe International Competition and Nagoya Student Competition in Japan.
From 2014 until 2019 she was a member of the Baden-Baden philharmonics and since 2019 she is a member of the Graz philharmonic orchestra.
Who is it for?
This Club day is for all guitar students, teachers and enthusiasts, interested in a general deepening of their guitar knowledge. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn. If you would like to apply, fill out the application form below.
Timetable
10. 4. 2027
Johann Joseph Fux Konservatorium
(Nikolaigasse 2, 8020 Graz)
9:00 – 9:30 / Welcome : Coffee & Tea
9:30 – 9:55 / Technique with the GS Team
10:00 – 12:15 / Chamber Music-Workshop
with Nejc Kuhar
11:00 – 12:15 / Guitar orchestra
12:15 – 13:00 / Lunch break
13:00-15:15 / Masterclasses
13:00 – 15:15 / Guitar orchestra
16:15-17:30 / Concert of Eminent Duo and
GS Club day participants
Pricing
FULL DAY CONTRIBUTION
(workshops, listening to masterclasses, guitar orchestra, concert):
Early-Bird*: 30€ · 15€ (members discount)
Regular: 40€ · 20€ (members discount)
ACTIVE MASTERCLASSES:
Nejc Kuhar: 45€ for 45 minutes
GS Team: 45€ for 45 minutes
ONLY CONCERT
Adult: 20€ · 15€ (Early-Bird*)
Youth: 10€ · 7€ (Early-Bird*)
Students: 10€ · 7€ (Early-Bird*)
GS Members: 10€ · 7€ (Early-Bird*)
GS Club Day participants: 0€
Students/Teachers of the JJF Conservatory: 0€
*until the 3rd of April 2027
Sponsored by
Applications will be available here soon!
