Glasbena matica Ljubljana

This year, the cultural society Glasbena matica Ljubljana is celebrating its 140th anniversary. In honour of this anniversary more than 100 events will take place in Slovenia throughout the year.

The Cultural Society Glasbena matica was established in 1872 and included among its members both professional and amateur musicians. In 1882 the society first founded a music school and nine years later also a choir and started with concert activities. With the establishment of a conservatory of music in 1919, the Society made a major step forward and now offered also musical education. Throughout its existence, Glasbena matica focused on the promotion and the preservation of the Slovene cultural heritage by collecting folk songs. In the programme booklet for the anniversary year, Nataša Cigoj Krstulović writes: »The significance of the Society for the professional development of Slovenian music until the Second World War is evidenced by its achievements in educational, publishing and concert activities. Until the Second World War the Society had educated many professional and amateur musicians – following its example music schools were established also elsewhere in Slovenia. It organized more than one thousand two hundred concerts, of which almost a thousand in Ljubljana, and published almost three hundred music editions.« After the Second World War, the government prohibited the Society's activities and only a mixed choir could continue with its work. In 1998 Glasbena matica reacquired its premises, redefined its objectives and continued with its activities. Today, it manages four choirs, organises concerts, educational activities and publishes music materials. It focues primarily on encouraging the interests of the young in music and culture in general.

Glasbena matica will celebrate its 140th anniversary with more than 100 events. In addition to regular events, special events will be scheduled in cooperation with numerous Slovene music institutions. The main event, however, will be the Official Academy on 21 October, hosted by the President of the Republic, dr. Danilo Türk.