Ivan Ferčič, piano

Ivan Ferčič began his musical education at the departments of piano and accordion of the Maribor Music School and continued his studies at the Art Academy under the mentorship of professors Narcis Grabar, Sijavuš Gadžijev (piano) and Slavko Magdić (accordion). After completing the Art Academy in 2003 he received the Roman Klasinc Award for outstanding achievements and enrolled in the Ljubljana Music Academy in the same year. Under the mentorship of professor Tatjana Ognjanovič he graduated summa cum laude in 2008. Ferčič attended international piano academies with professors A. Valdma, S. Gadžijev, N. Flores, M. Hughes, J. Janda, J. G. Jiraček and G. Wallisch. Ferčič also performed in numerous recitals and chamber orchestras across Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Italy, Macedonia, the Czech Republic and Great Britain and recorded with Radio Slovenia. His guest appearances include stints with the Maribor Youth Orchestra (cembalo), the Maribor Philharmonic Orchestra and the Slovene Philharmonic Orchestra. Ferčič is the recipient of the Prešeren award of the Ljubljana Music Academy. In the academic year 2009/2010 he successfully completed his postgraduate specialist studies under the mentorship of professor Tatjana Ognjanovič and performed his rendition of Chopin’s Piano Sonata No. 2 at the international conference of the European Piano Teachers Association in Ljubljana. The performance earned him an invitation to Cardiff, the capital of Wales, where he performed in a recital as part of the EPTA conference in Cardiff.
During his studies Ferčič attended numerous international and domestic competitions and won several gold citations, finishing first on one occasions and second on four other occasions. At the 2007 national music competition Ferčič earned first place and the gold citation in the category of top-level piano. The national title earned him a spot in the first EU international piano competition, organized by the European Piano Teachers Association, held in 2009 in Prague. At the competition Ferčič received an honorary diploma for his exceptional rendition of Modest Mussorgesky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.