Neža Torkar rođena je 1990. u Sloveniji. Među njezinim brojnim uspjesima mogu se izdvojiti 1. nagrada na takmičenju „Arrasate Hiria“ u Španiji 2017. i 3. nagrada na takmičenju u Klingenthalu, Njemačka 2016, na dva najprestižnija svjetska međunarodna takmičenja za harmoniku. Po završetku srednje muzičke škole u Ljubljani (Slovenija) odlazi u Weimar (Njemačka) gdje je diplomirala i kasnije magistrirala kod profesora Ivana Kovala na Univerzitetu za muziku Franza Liszta (Weimar). U decembru 2019. završila je najviši nivo muzičkog obrazovanja u Vajmaru (Njemačka). Uz to, pohađala je majstorske kurseve kod međunarodno priznatih profesora. Nastupa kao solista ili u različitim ansamblima kamerne muzike i radi za razne projekte kao što su Musicals, Gewandhaus Leipzig, Jeunesses Musicales Slovenija, RTV Slovenija, Festival Ljubljana, Weimarische Frühjarstage, Festival Echos, Rotary club, Međunarodni festival harmonike u Srbiji, Ukrajinski dani Bajana itd. Od 2003. godine Neža Torkar je pobjednica i dobitnica nekoliko nagrada (solo harmonika, kamerna muzika, orkestri harmonika) u Sloveniji, Hrvatskoj, Italiji, Njemačkoj i Belgiji. Pobjednica je slovenskog nacionalnog takmičenja za harmoniku u 2008. i 2011. godini i pobjednica međunarodnog takmičenja za harmoniku u Beltincima 2011. Nagrađena je 3. nagradom na Međunarodnom takmičenju harmonika u Belgiji 2012. i 1. nagradom kao solista 2013. i 2016. godine na Međunarodnom takmičenju u Puli (Hrvatska). Godine 2016. dobila je Specijalnu nagradu Kulturnog festivala za soliste na Međunarodnom takmičenju braće Graun za baroknu muziku u Bad Liebenwerdi u Njemačkoj i dobila ponudu za turneju u Njemačkoj 2017. godine U aprilu 2018. Godine pobijedila je na takmičenju u Puli u Hrvatskoj sa najvišim ocjenama iz svih kategorija kamerne muzike u duu s Romanom Simberom (violončelo), kasnije u 2018. godini osvojili su 2. mjesto na 55. međunarodnom takmičenju harmonikaša u Klingenthalu, a u septembru 2018. pobijedili prestižno takmičenje u Castelfidardu (Italija). Kao harmonikaš u ansamblu za savremenu muziku Via nova Thüringen sarađuje s mnogim novim kompozitorima i svira između ostalog više od 50 premijera kamerne muzike i samostalnih djela te svira u Njemačkoj, Italiji, Engleskoj, Poljskoj i Južnoj Koreji. Neža je nagrađena stipendijama slovenačkog Ministarstva kulture i stipendijom Charlotte-Krupp iz Fonda Franz Liszt Njemačka kao najbolji student ostvarenih koncertnih ispita. U aprilu 2017. je položila audiciju u Hamburgu i dobila CONCERTO stipendiju Alfred Toepfer. 2017. Gradonačelnica grada Jesenica u kojem je Neža rođena nagradila ju je Posebnom nagradom za sva postignuća ostvarena tokom studija u Njemačkoj.
Classical Accordionist Neža Torkar was born 1990 in Slovenia. Among her many accomplishments one may find 1st prize at the “Arrasate Hiria” Competition in Spain 2017 and 3rd prize at the competition in Klingenthal, Germany 2016, at the two of the world’s most prestigious international Accordion competitions. After finishing music high school in Ljubljana (Slovenia) she left for Weimar (Germany) where she graduated and later finished her master’s degree with Professor Ivan Koval at the University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar. In December 2019 she finished the highest level of musical education in Weimar (Germany) with honors. In addition, she took master classes with internationally recognized professors. She regularly performs as a soloist or in different chamber music ensembles and works for various projects such as Musicals, Gewandhaus Leipzig, Jeunesses Musicales Slovenia, RTV Slovenia, Festival Ljubljana, Weimarische Frühjarstage, Festival Echos, Rotary club, International accordion festival in Serbia, Ukrainian days for Bayan etc. Since 2003 Neža Torkar has been a winner and prize winner of several competitions (solo accordion, chamber music, accordion orchestras) in Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, Germany and Belgium. She was winner of the Slovenian national accordion competition in the years 2008 and 2011 and winner of international accordion competition in Beltinci 2011. She was awarded with 3rd prize at the International accordion competition in Belgium 2012 and with 1st prize as a soloist at the International competition in Pula, Croatia, in years 2013 and 2016. In November 2016 she received the Special Prize of the Cultural Festival for Soloists at the International Brothers Graun Competition for baroque music in Bad Liebenwerda in Germany and got an offer for a tour in Germany in 2017. In April 2018 she won competition in Pula, Croatia with the highest scores from all chamber music categories in duo with cellist Romana Simbera, later in May 2018 they won the 2nd place at the 55th International Accordion Competition in Klingenthal and in September 2018 they won the prestigious competition in Castelfidardo (Italy). As an accordionist in the ensemble for contemporary music Via nova Thüringen she is working with many new Composers and playing among other things more than 50 premieres of chamber music and solo works and regularly plays in Germany, guesting in Italy, England, Poland and South Korea. Neža was awarded with scholarships from Slovenian Ministry of Culture and with Charlotte-Krupp Scholarship from Franz Liszt Foundation Germany for the best Concert Exams Students. In April 2017 she passed an audition in Hamburg and received an excellence CONCERTO Scholarship by Alfred Toepfer Foundation. 2017 Mayor of the town Jesenice where Neža was born awarded her with the Special Prize for all achievements she made during her studies in Germany.
COMPETITIONS:
1st place Arrasate Hiria, Spain 2017 + prize for the best testpiece
1st place, national competition Slovenia 2008
1st place, national competition Slovenia 2011 + prize for the best testpiece
1st place, international competition Beltinci, Slovenia 2011
1st place, international competition Pula, Croatia 2018 + special prize of the city Pula
1st place, international competition Castelfidardo 2018 + 2 special prizes
1st prize, international competition Pula, Croatia 2013
1st prize, international competition Pula, Croatia 2016
2nd place, international competition Klingenthal, Germany 2018
3rd place, international competition Gent, Belgium 2012
3rd place, international competition Klingenthal, Germany 2017
4th place, international competition Klingenthal, Germany 2012
Special Prize at the »Gebrüder Graun« competition in Germany, 2016