Slovenian pianist and composer Jaka Pucihar has graduated at Academy of Music in Ljubljana. He has a degree in composition and music theory (1998, class of Prof. Alojz Srebotnjak), than he continued with post-graduate studies (2002) and doctorate studies (academic year 2002/2003). In 1998 he won the Prešeren Prize for best students at the Academy of Music, for the symphonic work Concerto for percussion and orchestra and in 2001 he received the recognition for important artistic contribution in the field of music creativity.
Since 1999 he is assistant lecturer at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana; he teaches harmony, improvisation, jazz harmony and jazz arrangement. He was also a member of the experts' jury for the choice of Slovene work for EMA (2001) and a member of the Slovene experts' jury at the Eurosong competition in Copenhagen, Denmark (2001).
His works have been performed in many venues all over Slovenia, as well as in Austria, Italy, Germany, France, the USA and Israel. Apart from composing he is active as performer and collaborates with renowned artists such as Irena Grafenauer, Darja Švajger, Alenka Godec, Vita Mavrič, and orchestras such as the Symphony Orchestra of Slovene Radio and Television, Chamber Orchestra of Vrhnika, the Slovene Army Orchestra and Big Band of Slovene Radio and Television; he also worked as producer at the Slovene National Radio.
ORCHESTRAL MUSIC:
Concerto for percussion and orchestra, Audiatur for symphony orchestra, This is it for symphony orchestra, Passacaglia for string orchestra, Jutro (The Morning) – arrangement for voice and festival orchestra, Zdravi bili (To your health) - arrangement for voice and festival orchestra, Memento mori - arrangement for voice and large jazz orchestra, Besame mucho - arrangement for large jazz orchestra.
CHAMBER MUSIC:
Musica da camera No. 1 for flute, violoncello and piano, Štirje pejsaži (Four Landscapes) for clarinet and string quartet, T(ulip)ango for flute, chromatic mouth organ, violoncello and piano, Variations for clarinet quartet, A Short Theme and Variations for clarinet quartet, Lydian Way for flute and piano, Sonata for clarinet and piano, Sonata No. 2 for clarinet and piano, Three for Trio for violin, clarinet and piano, Three Preludes – arrangement for violin, clarinet and piano, Skladba - arrangement for trumpet and organ, Flavtazija (Flutesy) for flute and violoncello, Jazz in ti (Jazz and You) for chromatic mouth organ and piano, Zadnji čas pred zimo (Time just before the Winter) on a text by France Balantič for soprano and piano, Upanje (Hope) on a text by France Balantič for soprano and piano, Three Songs for mixed choir: Po slovesu (After the Parting), Žabe (Frogs), Jesensko jutro (Autumn Morning), Autumn Leaves - arrangement for voice, mixed choir and jazz trio, Moon River - arrangement for mixed choir, Three Preludes -arrangement for clarinet and piano, Skok čez rob sveta (Leap over the Edge of the World) - arrangement for children's choir and piano, Čas hiti (Time Flees) for voice and quartet accompaniment.
MUSIC FOR SOLO INSTRUMENTS:
Suite for piano, Utrinki (Musical Glimpses) for piano, Suite in Ancient Style for piano, Aulody for oboe solo, Jagoda (Strawberry) for piano, Adagio for piano, Mixtura for piano.
