NIKOLAJ ZVER in MATJAŽ BALAŽIC, accordion duo

Nikolaj Zver studied at 1. Gymnasium in Celje – art studies. It was taught by prof. doc. Luka Juhart. He is a multiple prizewinner in various competitions at home and abroad. After graduating from high school, he passed the entrance exam at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Graz, in the class of Prof. Janne Rätty, who is considered one of the best accordionists in the world. After graduating with honours, she is currently completing her Master’s degree under the supervision of Jannet Rättyä. He has also studied with artists such as Inaki Alberdi, Vincent Lhermet, Mie Miki, Frode Haltli, Luka Juhart, Matti Rantanen, … He regularly performs as a soloist, a member of various chamber groups, as well as with renowned orchestras.

Matjaž Balažic studied at the Music School Murska Sobota under the tutelage of Matej Zavec, the Secondary School of Music and Ballet in Maribor under the tutelage of Prof. Andrej Lorber, and the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz (Janne Rättyä), where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in July 2013 and a Master’s Degree with honours in March 2017. He is a multiple prizewinner of various competitions at home and abroad (TEMSIG, Castelfidardo, Pula). He performs as a soloist, member of various chamber groups, as well as with orchestras (Slovenian Philharmonic, Camerata Austria, SNG Maribor). In 2021, in collaboration with Milko Lazar and Edvard Clug, he gave the first performance of the ballet The Water Man. He has taken to stages around the world with the Piazzolleky Quintet, which has been recreating the music of the Argentine tango for a decade and a half. Since 2015 he has been working at the Maribor Conservatory of Music and Ballet.