Jan Gričar

Slovenian saxophonist Jan Gričar is a professor of saxophone and chamber music at the Ljubljana Conservatory of Music and Ballet, as well as an assistant professor at the Academy of Music Ljubljana.

He graduated from the Academy of Music in Ljubljana under the guidance of Prof. Matjaž Drevenšek and Prof. Miha Rogina. Gričar continued his studies in France at the Conservatory in Versailles with Prof. Vincent David and completed his master’s degree at the prestigious Paris Conservatory under Prof. Claude Delangle, further specializing in chamber music with Prof. Laszlo Hadady.

An active soloist and chamber musician, Gričar has performed across Slovenia, the USA, Europe, and Japan, appearing at renowned venues such as Salle Cortot, Théâtre du Châtelet, and Radio France Musique in Paris, Izumi Hall (Japan), the Essen Philharmonic, Vienna’s Musikverein, the Slovak Philharmonic, and Cankarjev dom (Slovenia). He has been invited to numerous festivals, including Jeunes Talents, Schleswig-Holstein, Young Classic Europe, and Rising Stars.

As a soloist, he has performed with leading orchestras such as the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, National Classical Orchestra of Andorra, Cantus Ensemble, RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, and the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra. Gričar has also collaborated with contemporary music ensembles like Ensemble Intercontemporain and Neofonía. A passionate advocate for new music, he has premiered over 20 works by Slovenian and international composers  and regularly records for the RTV Slovenia radio archive.

Gričar has been awarded prizes in numerous important national and international competitions, including TEMSIG, Marco Fiorindo, Andorra Sax Fest, Primož Ramovš Chamber Music Competition, Nova Gorica International Competition, Osaka International Chamber Music Competition, and the Vienna International Music Competition.

Since 2021, Gričar has served as artistic co-director of the SAXGO International Saxophone Meeting in Nova Gorica, succeeding Prof. Matjaž Drevenšek. He conducts masterclasses in Slovenia, France, Serbia, and Croatia, and frequently serves as a jury member for national and international competitions.