Atanas Tzvetkov was born in Sofia, Bulgaria in 1972, a natural musician and performer. He settled on the guitar at age eleven, studying under a young and ambitious teacher who pushed Atanas to take his evident talent seriously. Atanas earned a place at Dobrin Petkov, an exclusive music high school. Upon completion of this intensive five-year program, Atanas was accepted to the Academy of Music in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where he obtained his Master's degree in music pedagogy (1995). During this period, Atanas performed throughout the country in festivals, concerts, and solo recitals, absorbing the varied musical traditions of Bulgaria —a nexus for Eastern and Western influences and home to a distinguished classical music culture as well as a distinctive folk music.
In 1995 Atanas left Bulgaria for the United States to study with the renowned classical guitarist, Ernesto Bitetti, at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he earned a Performer's diploma (1996) a Master's degree (1999), and a Doctoral degree in guitar performance (2009). In 1999, Atanas won first prize in the Second Annual Competition in the Performance of Music from Spain and Latin America, sponsored by the Spanish Cultural Center and by the Indiana University Latin American Center. The competition was followed by recordings and by a series of concerts throughout the United States, in New York, Dallas, Chicago and other cities.
Atanas has devoted much of his time to communicating his musical insight to the younger generation. In addition to his college teaching, master classes, and private lessons, Atanas has greatly expanded the Pre-College Guitar Program at Indiana University. Under his direction and leadership this program has become a cornerstone of the Guitar Department at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
Espen Jensen
was born in Norway in 1975. He began training on the
classical guitar at the age of nine under guitar instructor Bengt
Martinussen. Prior to entering the performance program at Agder
College-Conservatory of Music in Kristiansand, Norway in 1994,
Jensen spent three years at the Gymnasium-Dahlske Skole in Grimstad,
Norway where he further dedicated his studies to music. he graduated
from Agder College-Conservatory of Music in 1998 with the Candidatus
Magistri degree in Performance, and was awarded a 1.00 on his final
recital - "the highest grade ever given to a guitarist." Upon
graduation, Jensen moved to the United States where he entered the
Master of Music program at Indian University's Jacobs School of Music in
Bloomington. There he was awarded a tuition scholarship and served
as an Associate Instructor in the Guitar Department.
He received his
master's degree in Guitar Performance in 2000, after having studied
with Maestro Ernesto Bitetti for two years. He continued his
graduate studies with Maestro Bitetti and is currently pursuing the
Doctor of Music degree in Guitar Performance and Literature. In
2001, Jensen won first prize in both the string division of the
Indianapolis Matinee Musical competition, and the 4th Annual
Competition in Performance of Music from Latin America and Spain in
Bloomington.
Nemanja Ostojic
was born in Belgrade, Serbia, considered to be one of the finest guitarists of his generation. He has graduated from Music High School Kosta Manojlovic in the class of prof. Bosko Radojkovic,and also from Belgrade Academy of Music, in the class of prof. Srdjan Tosic, receiving his Bachelor Degree in Music. Currently he is studying at the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University, Bloomington, under guidance of prof. Ernesto Bitetti. He attended master-classes with: Carlo Marchione, Leo Brouwer, Costas Cotsiolis, Pavel Steidl, Eduardo Isaak , among others.
International prizes:
Guitar Art Competition in Belgrade (2001,2003);
Both Serbian and Yugoslavian State competitions for young musicians (2000, 2003);
Festival of Classical Guitar Sinaya, Romania;
Volos Guitar Festival,Greece;
Competition for young guitarist "Anna Amalia" Weimar,Germany;
Guitar festival "Niccolo Paganini" Parma, Italy;
Finalist of the 2005 Jeunesse Musicales, Belgrade, Serbia.
2nd prize at "Il de Re competition", France;
4th prize Iserlohn Symposium, Germany;
1st prize at GAF in Herceg Novi, Montenegro.
1st prize at GAF in Herceg Novi, Montenegro.
1st prize at 11th "Competition in performance of music from Spain and Latin America" , held at the IU. Jacobs School of Music.
1st prize at 2008 "Schadt String Competition" in Allentown, PA
1st prize at 7th "Texas Guitar Competition"
Ostojic performed in many highly acclaimed recitals in his country and abroad, ever since 2000, when his international career begun. Performed in Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Germany, USA, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, France, Russia, Turkey and USA. Nemanja Performed as soloist with Bilkent Symphony Orchestra, Athens chamber orchestra, Belgrade Philharmonic, Saint George Strings, performing with conductors such as Petar Ivanovic, Daragana Jovanovic, Bujor Hoinic and with Maestro Leo Brouwer, performing "Concierto de Aranjuez" at the 5th GAF in Belgrade. Nemanja had honor to substitute the great John Williams in this very special performance, and to perform with Maestro Brouwer himself. Nemanja has particular interest in Latin American music.
Press:
"Nemanja's chords led him to victory" -Glas Javnosti, Belgrade, Serbia "Showing some pluck" -The Morning Call, Allentown,PA
Maja Radodvanlija
was born in Belgrade (Serbia), on 27th of September, 1975. At age of ten, she started to play classical guitar and attend Elementary Music School. As a child, she won several prizes on Music School festivals in ex-Yugoslavia. At age of 14 she entered Music High School “Joseph Slave ski”, studying with Prof. Alexander Hadji-Djordjevic. During this period of time, she won second prize at International Competition “Petard Konjevic” in Belgrade, performed her first solo concert and took part in classical music serial for National Television of Serbia.
She studied her Bachelor degree at university of Belgrade, working with Prof.Srdjan Tosic. During her studies, she won special prize at International Competition in Kjustendil, Bulgaria. Since then she performed frequently as solo and chamber musician, especially. In numerous different chamber ensembles she toured Serbia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Macedonia, Greece and Tunisia.Living in Serbia, where classical guitar is very popular instrument, she had chance to attend one the biggest classical guitar festivals in Europe, Guitar Art(Belgrade), and to work with famous performers and teachers as Pavel Steidl (Czech Republic), Alvaro Pierri (Austria), D.Bogdanovic (USA) and many others.Currently, she is enrolled in PhD program at IU, working with Maestro Ernesto Bitetti.
Maja is also interested in teaching beginning level of guitar, as she did teach kids in Serbia for almost ten years in elementary music schools. Currently she teaches pre-college level of classical guitar at IU.
