Uršula Jašovec
Uršula Jašovec first learned to play the piano at the Kamnik Music School under the guidance of Prof. Martina Golob-Bohte. She continued her education at the Kamnik Gymnasium GSŠRM and furthered her musical studies at the Music and Ballet Conservatory in Ljubljana, where she completed the musical theory under Prof. Janez Osredkar. She earned a degree in music education at the Music Academy in Ljubljana and later graduated Summa cum laude in Composition and music theory under the eminent Prof. Pavel Mihelčič. She also gained knowledge in singing under Prof. Egon Bajt and is completing her studies in organ under the tutelage of Prof. Mario Perestegi at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. Since 2018, she has been a member of the Society of Slovenian Composers.
She is active as a composer, conductor, music educator, and organist. She has received numerous awards and has organized major music and stage projects, authored more than 70 original compositions, over 100 arrangements, and multiple performances.
Her music has been performed at the Slovenian Philharmonic, European Capital of Culture Maribor, Europa Cantat, Ljubljana Choral Festival, Sozvočenja competition, grand prix Maribor Naša pesem, Zagorje Childrens Choir Competition, festivals such as Fens, Brinjevka, World Music Days, Slovenian Music Days, Epta, Studio 14, KotorArt Festival, Inédits d’orgue, IMPULS, and other international stages, including Italy, Canada, Montenegro, Austria, Germany, Serbia, Ukraine, Croatia, England, America, and France.
At the initiative of Mateja Lasič, she composed her first cantata for orchestra and choir titled "Precatio medici iuvenis," which was performed at the Slovenian Philharmonic in 2009 as part of the Concert of Medical Faculty Students. In 2012, she arranged songs by Michael Jackson for orchestra, two choirs, and soloists for a charity concert titled "Listening for Africa," organized by medical students. In 2016, she arranged Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 for Mateja Lasič and the Camerata medica medical orchestra, initially for strings and later for symphony orchestra and piano, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Faculty of Medicine in Ljubljana.
In 2010, she composed a music-theatrical work titled "V duhu čiste melodije (In the Spirit of Pure Melody)” for a symphonic orchestra, choir, and soloists to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Domžale Music School. In 2014, she composed her first ballet, "Plašček za Barbaro (A coat for Barbara)," for the 100th anniversary of Vitomil Zupan, which was performed at the Plesni teater and Španski borci in Ljubljana. Her second ballet, "Biserni zaliv (Pearl Bay)," highlighting the importance of social responsibility for nature conservation, was performed throughout Slovenia during the 2021/2022 season with 35 repetitions. Currently, she is creating music for her third ballet.
In 2018, she presented her opus as a composer at a seminar at the University of Estonia in Tallinn as part of the Europa Cantat festival. The Arcova Feniarco chamber choir performed her novelty "Salve Regina" at the Aosta festival under the mentorship of Randall Z. Stroope. In 2019, she was accepted as a composer-in-residence at the festival d'Aix-en-Provence in France, where they performed her short opera "Douceur" multiple times under the mentorship of Anthoniy Heidweiller. In August 2023, music for voice and organ or piano, set to Cvetana Priol's text on the occasion of her beatification, was released and performed by the Ljubljana Music Society Glasbena Matica and published by Slovenian Composers Society. Her choral works are regularly published by Astrum publishing house and Mladinska knjiga publications.
In 2019, she composed the music for the cabaret theatre play "Blaznost igre (Madness of the Play)” based on Nebojša Pop Tasič's text, which received the Matiček Award at the Linhart Days and the Čufarjeva Plaque Award. In 2023, she collaborated with Nebojša Pop Tasić again, composing the music for the theatre play "Salto Mortale," which received an award at the Linhart Days.
Her musical fairy tale "Kako je osliček premagal strah" (How the Little Donkey Overcame Fear) is designed as a therapeutic fairy tale, teaching children that they create their own fears. The fairy tale was first performed in 2022 and is presented in various Slovenian kindergartens. It was also published as a musical book. Her new musical fairy tale "Moč močvirja" (The Power of the Marsh) was performed during a symposium on marshes in April 2023 and is starting its tour in season 2023/2024 for schools in Slovenia.
In addition to her role as a composer, she has also proven herself as an artistic and music director and accompanist in the performances of musicals "Moje pesmi, moje sanje" (The Sound of Music), "Annie," "Pepelka" (Cinderella), and "Hello Dolly!" She has served as the leader and conductor of choirs such as MePZ Cor, KPD Drouz, ŽePZ Rozka Usenik, OPZ ZSKSS, DePZ Akademija za glasbo, MePZ Svoboda, and MePZ Cantemus. Currently, she teaches at the Kamnik Music School and the Ljubljana Conservatory of Music and Ballet and is self employed in culture.
AWARDS FOR COMPOSITION
2005
Ljubljana
1st jury prize and audience prize for the composition Naboj
(for a youth choir and a rock group), Scout festival for a song
2010
Ljubljana
Jury award for the best arrangement of the song Mi skavti smo Slovenian
(for youth choir, rock group and trumpet), Scout festival for let's sing
2013
Celje
Jury Award and Special Mention for The Train (SSATB Mixed Choir), European Award For Choral Composers, Europa Cantat
2013
2014 and 2015
Recipient of the Gaudeamusmuziekweek scholarship
Donaueschinger Musiktage-New Generation scholarship recipient
2017
Maribor
Competition prize for the arrangement of a Slovenian folk song (SSA), Glasbene Matice prize
2017
Cortemilia
The Rudolf Maistre Award for the compositions Sam (male choir) and Ptičja romanca (mixed choir)
2019
Cortemilia
Residency within the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, Opéra de-ci de-là Residency
2019
Maribor
2nd prize and Glasbene Matica prize at the 1st Slovenian solo singing competition for the composition Zadnja pesem je zame (soprano, piano), 1st Slovenian songSLAM (songSLAM)
2020
Ljubljana
Čufar's plaque for the theater play Madness of the Game, Days of Linhart
AWORDS FOR CONDUCTING
2014
Ljubljana
Recognition for the composer - recreater, conductor MePZ Drouz, Sozvočenja (2014).
Recognition and coordination of the event LaCappella - 1st a cappella competition, conductor MePZ Drouz
2015
Graz
Bronze award, artistic director VS Dotik, Vokal.total - International A Cappella Competition
2015
Celje
Silver award, conductor MePZ Drouz, regional competitions of adult choirs, Styria and Pomurje
2016
Ljubljana
Recognition, conductor MePZ Drouz, Consonances
2017
Graz
Silver award, artistic director VS Encore Vokal.total - International A Cappella Competition
2017
Gorenjska
Gold award, conductor KPD Drouz, Regional competitions of adult choirs