Chamber
Music
Duo with Stefan Pajanović
Duo with Stefan Pajanović
From the very beginning of his musical journey, Nikola has closely collaborated with his brother, pianist Stefan Pajanović, who completed his master’s degree in piano at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana under the guidance of Professor Jasminka Stančul. Stefan currently works as a répétiteur at the Slovenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Ljubljana, and as a teaching associate at the Academy of Music.
While Stefan’s artistic voice has been recognized on many concert stages, it is the collaboration with his brother that holds a special place in his career. Together, they have performed a series of acclaimed recitals, captivating audiences with their expressive and technically flawless interpretations.
Duo with Sara Čano - duo LUTHIER
Nikola and Sara have been performing together as a duo since 2012. They have won numerous awards at international competitions, including the First Prize and Absolute Winner at the “ArsNova” competition in Trieste, the First Prize at the “Tartini” competition in Piran, and the Third Prize at the prestigious “Ohrid Pearls” competition in Ohrid. In 2018, they were the absolute winners at the chamber music competition in Milan, Italy.
In 2024, they performed Brahms’ Double Concerto with the SNG Maribor Orchestra at the Ondina Otte Klasinc Hall under the baton of conductor Zoran Bičanin.
J. Brahms Double Concerto in A minor, Op.102
Nikola Pajanovic & Sara Cano, Orchestra SNG Maribor, Conductor Zoran Bičanin
G.F.Händel-J.Halvorsen; Passacaglia
OPIFEX Quartet
The Opifex string quartet consists of violinist Nikola Pajanović and Laura de Wolff, violist Rebeka Skok and cellist Sara Čano. Until last year, members were studying with prof. Emile Cantor at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, and are currently being refined independently at prestigious universities such as the Royal Academy of Music in London, the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, and the University of Music and Operating Arts (MDW) in Vienna.
The quartet performed their first concert in the Hall of Radovljica Manor, and the first feature appearance in the Portorož Auditorium. In addition to performing in the standard quartet, they also collaborate as a piano quintet with pianist Peter Bubola, with which they performed a piano quintet in E-flat major by Robert Schumann as part of the Ljubljana Youth Music. At the Ribnica Festival, they performed with prof. Tadej Kenig and besides the American Quartet by Antonín Dvořák presented the works of Carl Maria von Weber and Nina Šenk.
J. Brahms: String quartet no. 1 in c-minor
C. Debussy: String quartet in g-minor
The quartet has performed at numerous reputable festivals, including at the Lent Festival, Imago Sloveniae, Spectrum, Ribnica Festival and Ljubljana Festival.
K. Penderecki: String quartet no. 3
J. Golob: String quartet no. 3
In the 2023/2024 season, two high profile concerts were performed: at Amadeus Hall in London at the invitation of the Slovenian Embassy and violinist Lana Trotovšek, and the second concert in the Radovljica mansion as part of the Slovenska Mlada Klasika cycle under the auspices of the Slovenski Mladi Abonma (SMA).
In April 2024, they performed at the closing concert of the Mladi Virtuozi cycle at the Ljubljana Festival, and in July that year in London, where they were invited by Lana Trotovšek and the Slovenian Embassy, a full length concert together with flutist Lana Kuščer and pianist Diego Caetan. In August 2024 they performed in the Radovljica mansion as part of the Slovenska Mlada Klasika cycle, organized by the Odeon association. In January 2025 they performed J. Brahm’s String quartet no. 1 alongside a world premiere of a quartet of a renowned slovenian composer, Jani Golob, who wrote his fifth string quartet for Opifex quartet and dedicated it to them.
The members of the quartet have improved with renowned musicians such as Vlatka Peljhan, Denis Shapovalov and others. Nikola Pajanović, the first violinist, is currently continuing his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Cellist Sara Čano graduated from the University of Music and Theater in Munich, and continues her studies at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. Violist Rebeka Skok studies at the same academy, and is currently exchanging at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. Violinist Laura de Wolff is completing her studies at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana and at the same time performing a preparatory program at the Royal Conservatory of Hague with prof. Lisa Jacobs.
For outstanding artistic achievements, members of the Opifex quartet received the Prešeren Award of the Academy of Music in the academic year 2022/2023.