Guest Artist
Mak Grgic
Touted as a “gifted guitarist” by the New York Times, 2-time Grammy®-nominated artist Mak Grgic [GER-gich] is a star on the worldwide stage. Renowned for his versatility, his repertoire spans from the ethnic music of his native Balkans to avant-garde and microtonal music. Mak’s roles as soloist, collaborator, and recording artist are fueled by curiosity, imagination, and boundless energy.
Mak has commissioned numerous new works for solo guitar and ensemble, collaborating with composers like Michael Gordon and Julia Adolphe. In Fall 2022, he premiered a newly commissioned guitar concerto by Michael Abels, known for the Oscar-winning film "Get Out."
Performing over 85 concerts annually, Mak has graced stages worldwide, including the Musikverein in Vienna, the Konzerthuset in Stockholm, and the Shanghai Grand Theater. In North America, he has performed at esteemed venues such as the Kennedy Center, Walt Disney Hall, and the National Gallery of Art.
As a recording artist, Mak's albums "Balkanisms" and Grammy®-nominated “Mak|Bach” explore a vast repertoire, including ethnic music, microtonal, new, and early music on re-fretted instruments. His discography includes collaborations with flamenco guitarist Adam del Monte and homages to composers like Ligeti.
Born in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Mak studied guitar in Zagreb and Vienna, balancing his world champion status in karate with his love for music. He holds a full-time teaching position at the University of South Carolina and is the founder and CEO of Notey, a mobile music education startup.
Mak is actively involved with the Bosana Foundation, supporting education for Bosnian youth, and regularly awards scholarships to students across South America.
Grammy Nominated
