The 13th edition of the Youngmasters Festival in Samobor will take place from August 21 to 31, 2024.
The festival is adjacent to activities of the 13th International Summer School for Young Musicians, which, in addition to masterclasses and a summer school for instrumentalists and singers, includes a series of concerts and entertaining-educational content.
The Youngmasters Gala Concert is the most festive event of the Festival. This year’s concert will be held on Tuesday, August 27, at 8 PM in the Knights’ Hall of the Posavje Museum in Brežice (Slovenia), continuing the cross-border collaboration initiated last year. The concert will feature an attractive and diverse program of classical music performed by esteemed artists of international reputation and instructors of the Youngmasters Summer School. In the first part of the concert, chamber ensembles formed by our long-time lecturers will perform, joined by two accomplished ensembles in their regular formations: Accoquartet (accordion quartet) and a flute quintet. The program for the evening will highlight the performance of Boris Papandopulo’s composition “Gloria”, written in 1983 for soprano, flute, and guitar. This is an exclusive opportunity, as there is no evidence that the piece has ever been premiered. It will be performed by soprano Anja Papa Peranović, flutist Marko Zupan, and guitarist Petar Čulić. In the second part of the concert, the audience at the Youngmasters Gala Concert will enjoy performances by soloists accompanied by the Festival Chamber Orchestra under the direction of maestro Davor Kelić. This year’s soloists include the brilliant guitarist from Samobor, Marta Faullend Heferer, young Samobor pianist Paula Dužanec, and rising opera star, soprano Josipa Bilić, who has a wide repertoire range both in concert activities and in opera roles.
Thanks to its concept and abundance of cultural events, Youngmasters has established itself over its 13 years as the most attractive summer school in this region. Attracting students from many European countries and beyond, since 2011, it has gathered lecturers and young musicians of international reputation. This year, the school will host fourteen top educators from eight different musical instruments and solo singing, with selected participants taking part in the work of the Festival Chamber Orchestra. Notable lecturers include Viennese musicians Nataša Veljković, Tobias Stosiek, and Claudia Visca, as well as celebrated Croatian pianist Aljoša Jurinić. The summer school for accordion, led by professor Ivana Črnjak, will also be offered again. Guitarist Petar Čulić and violinist Ieva Pranskute will be teaching at Youngmasters for the first time, joining the team of excellent regular lecturers Marko Zupan, Marco Graziani, Mihael Paar, Nenad Merlea, and Lovro Merčep.
Other festival concerts are also noteworthy. The Youngmasters Festival will again provide a stage for outstanding soloists and chamber ensembles, presenting them to the Samobor audience in four recitals. The first recital will be held by Nataša Veljković (piano) and Tobias Stosiek (cello) in the Prica Gallery on August 20, with a program including Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata and Camille Saint-Saëns’ virtuoso work, Introduction et Rondo capriccioso, op. 28, which Stosiek will perform on the cello. The second recital will feature guitarist Danica Škreblin, awarded the Audience Award at this year’s 4th International Guitar Competition Ida Presti, in the Chapel of St. Michael on August 24. The third concert will be performed by Pavle Golubić Trio in the Atrium of the Livadić Cafe (in case of rain in the Prica Gallery) on August 25, with original compositions and jazz interpretations of traditional Croatian songs; the concert is organized in collaboration with the POU Samobor. The final recital will present Duo Xylos (Ieva Pranskute, violin, and Mislav Brajković, cello) in the Atrium of the Livadić Cafe (in case of rain in the Chapel of St. Michael) on August 28. All concerts start at 8 PM.
The festival program also includes traditional concerts by the participants with thematic titles (Le concert du salon, Klassik am Nachmittag, Moment Musical, Twilight Concert, Concertino Classico, Tea Time Concert, Le concert du matin, Concerto Finale) held in acoustically and scenically unique locations in Samobor. Their charm provides the audience with an unforgettable musical experience, and the participants with valuable concert experience.
To contribute to audience development, Youngmasters offers a music pub quiz called “Quisando“, aimed at classical music enthusiasts, students, and all other music lovers. It will be held in Old Nick’s Pub on August 29, starting at 8 PM. Notably, the celebrated pianist and quiz enthusiast, Aljoša Jurinić, will be this year’s quiz master of Quisando, moderated by its original author, Petra Stojaković.
Additionally, participants will enjoy chamber music in the streets and parks of Samobor, presentations of accessories for wind instruments, leisurely coffee breaks in the sunny Samobor Square, evening gatherings, laughter, and new friendships.
Information on reservations and ticket prices for the Youngmasters Gala Concert can be found via the link. Admission to all other concerts is free.
A detailed schedule of events is available here.
