15th International competition of young pianists - Nis

Vladimir Mlinaric was born in Pula where he graduated from the elementary and secondary music school. He graduated from the Academy of Music in Ljubljana under prof.Zdenka Novak and took up his advanced studies in Vienna with a renowned pianist L.Brumberg, who himself was a student of the eminent pianist and pedagogue H.Neuhaus. Vladimir also took up many master courses under prof.A.Valdma, K.Bogin, L.Hallmann-Russell. Working with prof.B.Zakotnik, who taught him Lied interpretation had a significant influence on Vladimir`s artistic development.

While still a student Vladimir won several first prizes - The Preseren Prize, and first prizes at national and international competitions in Velenje, Dubrovnik, Zemono. He was also awarded a number of prizes at international competitions in Italy (Lucca, Ragusa-Ibla) and Germany (Baden-Baden, 1.prize-assoluto, 2013).

He has actively played as soloist and chamber musician performing in many cities in Europe (Paris, Munich, Torino, Milano, Firenze, Vienna, Edinburgh, Bruxelles…), and in the USA (Washington, Cleveland, Mobile…), also in Canada, China, Chile and Russia.

He performed at international festivals (Santander, Ljubljana Festival, Ohrid, Europamusicale,...) and played with famous artists (Barbara Bonney, Pierre Amoyal, Igor Garvis, Kurt Widmer, Nurit Pacht, Marcos and Bernarda Fink, Mirjam Kalin, Alessandro Svab, Jasminka Stancul, ...). He has been a member of the trio "Luwigana" since its foundation in 1994. Vladimir also performs modern music and was the first performer to have played works by I.Petric, B.Leskovic, P.Ramovs and others.

The critics see him as a sophisticated performer combining form and fantasy, ambition and love for music.His performance is explicit and plain, while his style is tactful and tasteful.

Since 2002, Vladimir has served as a professor of piano at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. He has been actively engaged as a jury member at many competitions in Slovenia, Italy, Montenegro and Russia. He has also been genuinely involved in giving master classes in Slovenia, Craotia, Austria, Montenegro.