Iza Štih, flute and Katarina Volčanšek, flute

Iza Štih (2004) began playing the flute at the age of six and already participated in twenty competitions during her early training, winning gold or first prize in seventeen of them. Since the 2019/2020 academic year, she has continued her studies at the Ljubljana Conservatory of Music and Ballet with Liza Hawlina. Her most notable achievements include second prize at the TEMSIG competition (2022), first prize with 100 points at TEMSIG (2025), first prize with the maximum score of 100 points at the international Varaždin Woodwind & Brass Competition, victory at the Tampere Flute Fest Young Artist Competition (2022), second prize at the Dutch International Flute Competition (2023), second prize at the German Flute Society International Online Competition for Young Flautists (2024) and second prize at the Flautiada Competition (2022) in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. As a soloist, she has performed with the String Chamber Orchestra of the Slovenian Philharmonic and the SNG Maribor Symphony Orchestra. In 2024 she received the Škerjanc Award. She regularly attends masterclasses with renowned professors, such as Philippe Bernold, Christina Fassbender, Karl-Heinz Schütz, Mario Caroli, Sébastian Jacot, Adam Walker and Matthieu Gauci-Ancelin. She is currently studying at the University of Ljubljana Academy of Music in the class of Karolina Šantl Zupan.

Katarina Volčanšek (2002) embarked on her musical path at the Franc Šturm Music School under Mojca Kolar and continued her training at the Ljubljana Conservatory of Music and Ballet with Nataša Paklar. She passed entrance exams for flute studies in Vienna, Graz, Linz and Ljubljana. She is currently completing a postgraduate programme in the flute under Karolina Šantl Zupan. She has received a gold plaque at the Svirél competition (2014), a silver award at the EMONA - International Competition for Young Wind Players (2015), a bronze (2013), silver (2016) and two gold plaques (2019, 2022) at the TEMSIG competition, along with a second prize in 2022. In 2023, she reached the semifinals of the prestigious Dutch International Flute Competition. In 2024, she won TEMSIG with the Inuaria Flute Quartet, returning next year to win as a soloist. She often performs with various orchestras and chamber ensembles, has been a member of wind and project symphony orchestras, and collaborates with the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra. She regularly hones her skills in masterclasses and lessons with renowned flautists, such as Anna Dina Björn-Larsen, Mario Caroli, Matthieu Gauci-Ancelin, Silvia Careddu, Jacques Zoon, Johanna Dömötör, Karl-Heinz Schütz, Kersten McCall, Rachel Brown, Marina Novak, Raphael Leone, Sophie Dufeutrelle, Eva-Nina Kozmus, Martin Belič and Aleš Kacjan.

Mateja Hladnik graduated from the University of Ljubljana Academy of Music, where she studied with Janez Lovše and now works as an accompanist. She frequently accompanies musicians at competitions, auditions, summer schools, recordings and concerts, where her professionalism, technical mastery and musical sensitivity contribute to the success of soloists. Her work ranges from guiding students to collaborating with established artists, whose creativity and passion for music inspire her. This creative environment continually drives her toward new musical challenges, deeper exploration of the repertoire and refinement of her own interpretations. In addition to teaching, she has also established herself as an accompanist at masterclasses and seminars, where she works with distinguished international mentors.