MePZ Obala -

Andrej Makor (1987)

is from Zgornje Škofije near Koper (Slovenia). His musical studies began with piano lessons in the class of Selma Chicco at the Koper Music School. After finishing the Music High School in Koper he graduated in music teaching with dr. Primož Kuret, in solo singing in the class of Pija Brodnik and in music composition with professor Jani Golob at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. He has also recieved a Prešeren Award for students of University of Ljubljana (Slovenia). Andrej continued with Masters studies of music composition in the class of Giovanni Bonato at the Conservatory of music Cesare Pollini at Padua (Italy). In July 2017 he finished his Masters Degree, graduating summa cum laude.

Through the years of his musical career, he was awarded several prizes and recognitions, either as a solo singer or as a composer. As a solo singer, he won a silver award at the national competition TEMSIG in Maribor in 2006 and the 1st place and a golden award as well as a special recognition at a regional competition in 2010. At the international singing competition in Treviso (Italy), in 2012, he was awarded the third prize and was first in his category. As a solo singer he performed with pianist Charles Spencer; he was also included several times in the program of the Glasbena mladina ljubljanska (Musical Youth of Ljubljana) named Mladi mladim (The Young for the Young), in the Mladi virtuozi (Young virtuosi) cycle, as part of the season of Imago Sloveniae, as Apollo in C. Monteverdi's opera L'Orfeo, as the main character (the judge) in C. W. Gluck's Le cadi dupe, as Illo in D. A. Pio's La Karneroika, in H. Pettan's cantata Ovidijeva posljednja noć u Rimu, in C. Gounod's Messe solennelle de Santa Cecilia. He regularly works with the Slovensko komorno glasbeno gledališče (Slovene Chamber Musical Theatre), the Bunker organization and the RTV Slovenia Chamber Choir. He refined his vocal technique at seminars held by Christina Pollerus, Alfred Burgstaller, Marjana Lipovšek, Bernarda Fink and Sabina Cvilak.

Andrej studied composition technique with Ambrož Čopi, Jani Golob, Giovanni Bonato and Salvatore Sciarrino. He took part in the 4th (2009) and 5th (2011) international competition for choral compositions Ignacij Ota in Trieste and was awarded the 1st prize and a special award as best young composer both times. In October 2013, a concert of his works was held at the Cankarjev dom in Ljubljana within the Mladi mladim season. In 2014, at the national competition of children and youth choirs in Zagorje, the jury bestowed him with the prize for the best new composition of the competition. In August 2014, he also won the 3rd prize at the prestigious international competition for composers Gudio d'Arezzo for his composition »Serenade«. In April 2015, he won the 1st prize with his composition »Istrijanka« at the national composers competition for concert bands. In August 2015, Makor's piece entitled »Paisaje« was selected as part of the official programme for the ECCO (European Contemporary Composers Orchestra) for BBC Singers concert in collaboration with ECSA (the European Composer and Songwriter Alliance) and BASCA (British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors) in London.

At 24th choral competition »Naša pesem« 2016 in Maribor (Slovenia), Makor's composition "Song no. X" was awarded for the best new composition of the competition. In April 2016, Makor was the finalist at »Young International Composers Competition - Chorus Austin« in Texas (USA). In May 2016, he won the 1st prize at the international composers competition »Concurs internacional de composició “Música coral al Masnou”« in Barcelona (Spain) for his composition »Ave Maria«. In September 2016 he won the 1st prize at the international competition for composers Gudio d'Arezzo for his composition »Crucifixus«. In February 2017 he won the 2nd prize at the international competition for composers Musica Sacra Nova 2017 in Köln for his composition »O Emmanuel«. In April 2017 he won the 3rd prize at the international composers competition »Via Nova« (category: music for orchestra) in organisation of the »18th Weimar Spring Festival for Contemporary Music 2017« for his composition »Noise of Silence« for orchestra. In July 2017 at the International Choral Competition Spittal an der Drau, Makor's composition »Omnia sol temperat« was the compulsory composition of the competition. Makor's composition »Angelus ad pastores ait« was chosen for the official program at the ISCM World Music Days 2017 in Vancouver. The composition will be perform by the Vancouver Chamber Choir. In 2018 the BBC Singers will have a premiere performance of the new Makor's composition »Kyrie« in London.

As a composer, he works with several choirs, ensembles and musicians, among which the BBC Singers (UK), the Vancouver Chamber Choir (CAN), the BYU Singers - conductor Andrew Crane (USA), the Salt Lake Vocal Artists - conductor Brady Allred (USA), the choir CODETTA (IRL), the Jenaer Philharmonic Orchestra, the Slovenian Philharmonic Choir – conductor Martina Batič, the APZ Tone Tomšič (in season 2014/15 he was assistant conductor of the choir), the Vokalna akademija Ljubljana (conductor Stojan Kuret), Duo Claripiano, the Ave Chamber Choir, the APZ University of Primorska, the Vocal ensemble Gallina, the female choir ČarniCe and others. His compositions have also been performed at numerous competitions, festivals and seminars both in Slovenia and abroad (in Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, Austria, Ireland, Japan , Russia, Philippines, the USA and so on).