In 2023, I stepped into a role that was both a great honor and a heavy burden: taking over the children’s choir at the Music Conservatory in Ljubljana. We began with only a handful of singers, and I knew my task was to build a sound, a voicing, and a culture of determination from the ground up.
A Milestone Celebration: 10 Years of Voice (2025)
One of the most significant moments of my tenure was leading the 10th Anniversary Concert of the choir in 2025. I designed the evening as a thematic journey that connected the choir’s past to its present. We honored all previous conductors, and I invited alumni—former singers who are now accomplished musicians—to return and perform as soloists alongside our current choir. It was a massive event that celebrated a decade of musical lineage, and you can still find the story of that night featured on the Conservatory's website.
Building a Legacy in Ljubljana
Throughout my time there, I used the choir as a "living laboratory." It was a privilege to have the children perform world premieres of several of my pieces. We proved what determined children can achieve across many stages:
• Modern Voices: Presenting new works at the ŽivŽav event, first performed pieces written by Katarina Pustinek Rakar.
• Sacred Spaces: Performing my own compositions at St. James’s Church (Šentjakobska cerkev) alongside Ambrož Čopi.
• Festival Stages: Opening the Srečanje mladinskih zborov in Celje and performing at the Pomladna prepevanja festival.
• Orchestral Power: Recording with the brass section of the Slovenian Philharmonic and performing with a full string and wind orchestra.
By 2024, the choir had grown to 30 singers. We were accepted into a major competition, but because of the timing of my maternity leave, the law prevented me from conducting. Since no one else felt brave enough to step in, that year of preparation simply dissolved. It was heartbreaking, but it didn't take away from the growth we achieved.
Small Voices, Big Hearts: GŠ Franca Šturma
In that same year, I took over a new choir at GŠ Franca Šturma. Though the group was smaller, their dedication was immense. By the end of the year, these children were singing beautiful three-part harmonies. They too premiered several of my works, bringing "little voices" to the most prestigious halls in Ljubljana:
• The historic Križanke.
• The Slovenian Philharmonic.
• The Betetova dvorana in the Kazina building (Academy of Music).
Watching them stand in those grand halls, singing with pride and precision, was the ultimate reward. I am so proud of how they grew into true artists.