Conductor Anjela Zingarenko

The Children's Choir "Istok" is the main concert collective of the Vocal-choral studio "Istok". In the choir sing children 9-16 years old. Young choristers perform concerts, and also participate in festivals in St. Petersburg, Russian cities and European countries. So, the choir visited Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, France, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Ireland. The children's choir «Istok» took part in the production of the cantata by K. Orff Carmina Burana with the orchestra and the Mariinsky Theater. The choir gave a solo concert at the Dome Cathedral in Riga, Latvia, and the Assumption Cathedral in Helsinki, Finland. The team became a laureate of many international choir competitions, including: "Rainbow" (St. Petersburg, Russia, 2013), 2 Children and Youth Choir Championship (Russia, St. Petersburg, 2015), "Petersburg Style", "Silver tuning fork" , International Choral Forum - (Russia, St. Petersburg, 2015, 2016, 2017), International Choir Competition. J. Brahms (Wernigerode, Germany, 2013), International Choir Competition (Malaga, Spain, 2015), International Competition of Children and Youth Choir Choirs (Gdansk, Poland, 2016). In July 2017 the choir received 2 gold medals in the European choral games and the Grand Prix of Nations in Riga (Latvia) in the categories "Children's Choir" and "Spiritual Music a capella".

Conductor Laura Bartoli 

Fuori dal Coro is a recently formed youth choir, composed by about 20 members, 15 years or older, mainly former singers of Piccolo Coro Melograno. It is a Youth Choir mainly devoted to a capella pop music but also to classical music and to other scores suitable for youth choirs programs. Fuori dal Coro took part in a Masterclass held by Paul Phoenix. They performed,among others, at Teatro della Pergola in Florence and Teatro Politeama in Prato. They were invited at the Festival Zipoli (Comune di Prato, 2017), and attended several events devoted to youth choirs at the National and local level. They have been invited and have performed in Carmignano (Prato), Pont Saint Martin (Aosta), Rovereto (Trento), Morciano di Romagna (Rimini), Trieste. They have been invited to perform during the forthcoming Festival di Primavera 2018(Montecatini), organized by Feniarco.

Conductor David Preloznik 

The Girls choir of grammar school Gimnazija Celje – Center, has a rich and long-lasting history as it was originally formed three decades ago. Ever since its establishment in 1971, the choir was under the direction of Vid Marcen, MD, Dragica Žvar MD and Metka Jagodič Pogačar. From 1995 onward, the choir has been conducted by Barbara Arlič Kerstein. From academic year 2011 the choir is conducted by David Preložnik. The 50 member girls amateur choir has made several appearances and has won numerous awards in Slovenia (Youth Choir Festivals in Celje and choir state championships in Zagorje) as well as abroad (Neerpelt, Lintz, Budapest, Venice, Rodhes, Riva del Garda, Varsaw, Jersy, Madrid, Bad Hofgestein, Prague, Malta, Berlin, etc.). Due to its successes and awards, Gimnazija Celje – Center girls choir is one of the best of their kind in Slovenia as well as abroad. Besides attending National and International Choir Competition the choir is appearing regularly on events organized by the school and concerts in Slovenia and abroad. Last year the choir won on regional choir competition in Slovenj Gradec (Golden medal cum laude – 94 points). On the last National choir competition for children and youth choirs in Zagorje ob Savi, the choir won on category for girls choirs (Golden medal cum laude – 92 points); they got also two special awards. http://www.jskd.si/glasba/zborovska/prireditve_zborovska/revija_zagorje/zagorje_16/rezultati.htm The choir gives traditional annual concerts; St. Nicholas concert, Christmas concert and the Annual concert of grammar school Gimnazija Celje – Center.
David Preložnik started his musical path education by completing primary level of accordion. In 2004 after the graduation from the Anton Martin Slomšek Gymnasium, he continued with study of musical education on the Pedagogical Faculty in Maribor. He graduated with excellence, on a subject of choir conducting, under mentorship of prof. Jože Fürst. Since then, he continues to gain knowledge on singing weeks and on international conducting seminars (Anders Eby - Sweden, Ragnar Rasmussen - Norway, András Farkas - Switzerland, Peter Broadbent - United Kingdom, Johannes Prinz - Austria). From 2007 to 2013 he led Chamber male choir Celje and with it greatly contributed to the cultural creation in city of Celje. Since 2012, he is the artistic director of the vocal group In spiritu (www.inspiritu.si) . He is a singer and assistant of the Collegium Vocale Celje choir (www.cvc.si) . He also works as organist and choirmaster on Prihova at the Slovenske Konjice. David Preložnik works as a music teacher at the Gymnasium Celje – Center (www.gcc.si) , where he conducts the girls choir and with his work contributes to the growth and awareness of youth singing in Celje.

Conductor Janet Zadow

Group of violinists between 7 and 12 years from the Accademia Musicale of Florence and from the School of Music of Scandicci that joins the individual study of the instrument to the experience of making music together with a repertoire from baroque to modern music. This young group has participated in numerous events and concerts: "E ..state sull' Arno_Settembre limitese" in 2015 and 2017 in collaboration with the Municipality of Capraia e Limite, "Playing in the city" in collaboration with the Municipalities of Pistoia and Serravalle Pistoiese (2015), "Note di Maggio" at the Church of SS. Apostoli in Florence (2017) and "Christmas concerts" at the Garibaldi Theater in Figline Valdarno (2015), at the Church of the Holy Family (2016) and at Monte alle Croci, Florence (2017). It has participated in various initiatives in collaboration with children's libraries and playrooms and in the inauguration of visual arts exhibitions. It is directed by Janet Zadow: graduated in musicology and graduated in violin at the London College of Music, she specialized in pedagogy and didactics at the Manchester Polytechnic. Professor of violin and chamber music in Manchester, then in Holland (Amsterdam and Amstelveen), since several years she has moved to Florence where she carried out an intense activity of teaching and diffusion of music. She has written and published several educational works for children. She was one of the board members of ESTA Italy (European String Teachers Association.), she has participated in an international project promoted by UCODEP and the European Union, in collaboration with the Accademia Musicale of Florence and the "Modena City Ramblers", in Palestine in Ramallah where she held music workshops for Palestinian young people.

Conductor Laura Bartoli

Piccolo Coro Melograno Founded in 2001, Piccolo Coro Melograno is currently composed by about 50 children, 5 to 14 years old. The choir has performed over 300 concerts all around Italy and recorded seven CDs. Traditionally active in pop music for children, in recent years Piccolo Coro Melograno has introduced classical music into its programs. Over the last five years the choir won First Prices at Choir Competitions Città di Riccione (2014) and San Benedetto Po (2017), Second Price at Città di Riccione Internal Choir competition (2015), Third Prices at "Garda in Coro" (2015) and "InCanto Piceno" (2013) Choir competitions, "Diploma di eccellenza" at the CoroPiu' Choral Festival organized by Associazione Cori della Toscana (2015). The choir was also awarded with the "Premio Firenze" and with the "Medaglia Beato Angelico". Piccolo Coro Melograno took part in MasterClasses held by Paul Phoenix, Basilio Astulez, Luigi Leo, Sabrina Simoni and performed together with Ensemble Elyma (Geneve), under the direction of Gabriel Garrido, in the International Festival of Sacred Music "O Flos Colende". As highlights of pop music activity, Piccolo Coro Melograno has performed in a live show on nationwide channel RAIUNO (prime time Saturday show, about 6,5 milion viewers), performing together with actor Giorgio Panariello and pop singer Alessandra Amoroso. Six of the choir components took part as soloists in the "Zecchino d'Oro" show, broadcasted live on RAIUNO. The choir regularly performs in some of the most prestigious locations in Florence such as Duomo di Firenze, Teatro della Pergola, Basilica di Santa Croce. It has created video productions for the Museo Galileo and for Fondazione Meyer. An important part of its activity is devoted to Fund Raising for several non-profit organizations devoted to children care, health and well being. Choir activities are partly supported by Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze and by the City of Florence.

Conductor Janet Zadow

Created in collaboration with the Municipality of Florence, it is located at the Accademia Musicale of Florence and it is composed of instrumentalists from various music courses in the city of Florence and Scandicci between 12 and 21 years. It has taken part in numerous international twinnings and cultural exchanges (France, Poland, Finland, Holland, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Spain, Czech Republic, Hungary), tours (in 2016 in Greece, in 2017 in Serbia in Subotica and Belgrade) and participations in shows and cultural events in the city of Florence (Festival of Europe 2015 and 2017) with concerts in various places of art and prestige in the city such as the Church of SM Novella, the Basilica of S. Trinita,Palazzo Panciatichi , Le Murate literary café, as well as an activity for the diffusion of classical music in schools and socio-cultural associations. It is directed by Janet Zadow: graduated in musicology and graduated in violin at the London College of Music, she specialised in pedagogy and didactics at the Manchester Polytechnic. Professor of violin and chamber music in Manchester, then in Holland (Amsterdam and Amstelveen), since several years she has moved to Florence where she is carrying out an intense activity of teaching and diffusion of music. She has written and published several educational works for children. She was a board member of ESTA Italy (European String Teachers Association.), she has participated in an international project promoted by UCODEP and the European Union, in collaboration with the Accademia Musicale of Florence and the "Modena City Ramblers", in Palestine in Ramallah where she held music workshops for Palestinian young people.

Conductor Saso Sonc

The Šlagers band is a vocal instrumental ensemble, which joins high school students, who enjoy playing popular music in their free time. Within a decade of their playing and performing the band has become thoroughly recognizable and is a constant feature at most important cultural events organised by our grammar school Gimnazija Celje-Center and beyond. Its repertoire covers a wide range of popular jazz, swing, funk and Latino music, and in thematic projects also chansons, Russian romances, etc. In addition to solo performances, the band mostly cooperates with the Girls' Choir of Gimnazija Celje-Center. The group The Šlagers received a prestigious Prešeren award for their long-term work. The group is led by the high school professor of Music Sašo Šonc.