Peter Ugrin

Peter Ugrin is classical violist and jazz violinist. He is a Viola professor at the Ljubljana Music and Ballet Conservatory. His students receive awards at the national and many other competitions. Peter plays Viola in various chamber ensembles of classical music (Guud Quartet, String Quartet, String Quintet). On Conservatory where Peter holds position he regulary performs on chamber music concerts of Slovenian contemporary artists and music from famous classical and romantic repertoire. He also gives seminars and masterclasses for viola and jazz improvisation in Slovenia and abroad. In the field of Jazz Peter leads famous Slovenian jazz group Artbeaters and he regulary performs on local and national festivals in Europe (Serbia, Croatia, Italy, Austria, Romania). Currently he also performs concerts in Slovenia and foreign festivals with the Big Band Gverillaz as conductor and violin soloist.

Slovenian National Television (RTV Slo) recorded concert on 80th anniversary of famous Slovenian composer Lojze Lebic where Peter performed as violist. As a jazz soloist he has performed on numerous occasions and important events, which were also recorded by RTV Slo (as a soloist with The Slovenian Radio Television Big Band, as a band leader and violinist with Artbeaters for the televison show Slovenian Jazz Scene), In another ocasion National Radio broadcasted Live concert where Peter performed with Artbeaters.

In recent years Peter appeared in many studio recordings and and at album CDs, among some should be mentioned: Artbeaters – Garden Of Adventure. Peter recorded viola for Music Of Paul Motion - Joel Harrison String Choir, David Binney with Strings and appeared as solo violinist on Billy Harper Voices album where he also recorded voice... Many contemporary artist among Russian Sergey Lunev is one of them wrote solo viola pieces for Peter which he performed as premier performances.

In the field of improvisation Peter works as a composer and violinist with the band Artbeaters, which in 2012 received first prize at the 6th International Jazz Competition in Bucharest among 120 registered groups from around the world. On the international festival and workshop Jazzinty in 2013 Peter won all three awards: for best group (Artbeaters), performance, and for the best composition (by Peter Ugrin). He regullary performs with famous Ex-Yugoslav jazz and rock bands such as September and Mladi Levi.

Peter began his musical studies at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. During his studies he received the highest award for students in Slovenia - Student Prešeren Award as a member of the string quartet.

He also received first prize at the national competition of chamber groups. Peter continued his studies in Austria at the Carinthian State Conservatory in Klagenfurt in the direction of Jazz Violin (prof. Max Grosch), while he also continued to study classical viola (prof. Helfried Fister). After Klagenfurt he continued his studies at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York, USA, where he graduated in the direction of jazz violin. He was educated and perfected with professors such as Christian Howes, Rob Thomas, Rory Stuart, Gerard D'Angelo, Ben Street, Peter Bernstein, Dave Glasser, Jane Ira Bloom, Reggie Workman, Bobby Sanabria, Billy Harper, Junior Mance, Charles Tolliver By the time of his studies in New York Peter has also performed as violist with Ambrose Akinmusire, David Binney and as jazz violinist with Afro-Cuban Ensemble lead by Bobby Sanabria in famous club venue Jazz Standard.

Awards

With Artbeaters winner of the 6th International Jazz Competition Europafest 2012 (Bucharest, Romania)