Mak Grgic

Guitar

Mak Grgic, proclaimed “imaginative, gifted, and expressive” by the NY Times and a “guitarist to keep an eye on” by the Washington Post is an innovative player with versatile programming. His repertoire extends in a range of genres including avant-garde, film music, and popular stylings, while still retaining great classics of the instrument. While a Young Artist in Residence at The Da Camera Society of Los Angeles, Grgic co-founded DC8, Da Camera’s contemporary music ensemble. The group was named an “inspiring addition to the contemporary music landscape in Los Angeles” by the LA Times. He has been fortunate to work with many talented collaborators including Martin Chalifour (Concertmaster, LA Phil), Jay Campbell, Joshua Roman, The Assad Brothers, Ashley Bathgate (Bang on a Can All-Stars), and John Sant’Ambrogio (St. Louis Symphony Orchestra). Grgic is a member of Duo Deloro with Adam Del Monte, and FretX Duo with Daniel Lippel.

Born in Ljubljana, Slovenia, he studied guitar in Zagreb with the revered Ante Cagalj at the Elly Basic Conservatory of Music and obtained his Bachelor’s Degree with Alvaro Pierri at the University for Music and performing Arts in Vienna, Austria. He finished his Doctoral Degree at the USC Thornton School of Music as a student of William Kanengiser and Scott Tennant of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet and Brian Head, artistic director of GFA. He holds a faculty position at Mount St. Mary’s University in Los Angeles, and artistic directorships of Zagreb Guitar Festival, interdisciplinary arts festival Biljke i Svirke in Croatia, and serves as Artistic Advisor of Hong Kong International Guitar Festival. When he is not involved in music, Grgic helps fundraise for Bosnian children with financial difficulties.