Slokar Quartet (Switzerland)

The Slokar Quartet whose members are Branimir Slokar, György Gyivicsan, Wassil Christov and Armin Bachmann, have already celebrated their 35th anniversary.
During this long and fruitful period of intense concert activity all over the world they have built up a very broad repertoire which ranges from arrangements of early baroque music to first performances of contemporary works. These four dedicated mudicians delight their audiences with their homogeneous sound, their brilliant virtuosity and their profound musicianship, which they often present in a very charming and humorous manner.
Many important contemporary composers have been inspired to collaborate intensively with the Slokar Quartet, which has led to a significant expansion of present-day trombone literature.
The latest Slokar Quartet CD - "Trombone Virtuoso" is on its way now!

Hans Gansch

Hans Gansch was born in 1953 in Kirnberg an der Mank, Austria. At the age of seven, he received his first music instruction from his father Johann Gansch (on the recorder and the small drum). When he was 11, he started playing trumpet in a band lead by his father. He studied trumpet with Professor Franz Veigl at the Anton Bruckner University in Linz.

From 1974 to 1976 he held the position as principal trumpeter with the Brucknerorchester Linz and from 1976 to 1982 he held the same position in the Symphony Orchestra of the Austrian Broadcast. From 1982 to 1996 he was first trumpeter in the Orchestra of the Viennese State Opera and with the Vienna Philharmonic. Since 1996, Hans Gansch has been trumpet professor at the Mozarteum in Salzburg.

Raya Brass Band (USA)

Raya Brass Band (pronounced “RYE ah”) is the sort of brass band that gleefully mashes up the music of Eastern Europe with funky American dance grooves, Reggaeton, and whatever else it gets its hands on. Featuring odd meters, unusual scales and a fine helping of gorgeous Balkan and Romany (Gypsy) melodies played on reeds, trumpet, accordion, tuba and drums, Raya Brass Band slakes the thirst for something old and new at the same time, unusual and funky, spiritedly played by some of NYC’s finest Balkan folk musicians.

Raya Brass Band draws in both average listeners and Eastern European folk music aficionados alike with its energetic and engaging portable show. As a fully acoustic ensemble, Raya Brass Band can wander freely, bringing a Balkan style dance party everywhere it goes. With members of the band ready to teach basic Balkan dances at the drop of a hat, the audience can choose to listen, learn some new dance steps, or shake everything they’ve got however they like!