Biography
Education
David Strbac (1998) started his musical education in Belgrade, Serbia at Music School "Mokranjac" in the class of prof. Vladimir Radulovic, in 2007. From 2011 until 2016 he has been attending the music school "Stankovic" in the class of prof. Boris Djujic.
In 2022, he graduated with honours from the University for Music and Performing Arts MDW in the class of world renowned prof. Alvaro Pierri.
During 2020/2021 he was chosen as one of the winners of the famous Anny Felbermayer-fonds scholarship reserved for the most talented and successful students of this University.
He has also won the "Concert-scholarship 2021" by Rotary Club Franz Schubert Vienna.
He has received lessons and masterclasses from some of the world's leading guitarists and musicians, such as: Zoran Dukić, Costas Cotsiolis, Carlo Marchione, Marcin Dylla, Thomas Offerman, Marco Tamayo, Rovshan Mamedkuliev, Oman Kaminsky, Edin Karamazov, Paul Galbraith, Yorgos Panetsos, Kyehee Park, Istvan Roemer, Lukasz Kuropaczewski, Florian Palier, Xhevdet Sanathia, Josef Zsapka, Mihalis Kontaxakis, Dejan Ivanovic, Mihai Cojocaru and others.
Concert career
An active concert performer since a very young age, Strbac has held his first solo recital in Belgrade, Serbia in 2010, when he was just 12 years old.
In the period from 2008-2010 he was chosen as a soloist in the young talent program of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, called “Belgrade Children’s Philharmonic.” This program gave him the opportunity to take part in various TV appearances and concerts in many cities in Serbia, including even 2 solo performances in Serbia’s most prestigious classical music hall “Kolarac”.
Since then he held solo recitals in Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, Austria, England and N. Macedonia, receiving great reviews and reactions from the audience.
“Since the very beginning Strbac’s command of the instrument and variety of sounds was obvious. Further on, we were able to enjoy his great ability to follow and connect musical ideas and maturity of his playing regardless of his young age, keeping our attention at full. Finally, he completely won our hearts with his sensibility of Spanish melodies contrasting passionate and virtuous playing.” Maya Jordan, “Serbian Month in Great Britain” festival director after David’s concerts in London, UK in 2019 and 2020.
From 2017 until end of his studies in 2022, he has been the leader of the project “Guitar evenings with Students of Alvaro Pierri” that was established on Strbac’s own initiative in collaboration with Austrian Society for Music. So far there have been more than 30 such concerts organized in Vienna, on which Strbac performed with his colleagues.
Strbac averages around 30 live performances per year, in various formats (Solo recitals, Chamber music projects, Guest appearances, Humanitarian concerts, etc.).
International awards
David Strbac has won a number of international and republic awards at competitions for young guitarists, among which most important are:
"Skopje international guitar festival", Skopje, N. Macedonia (I - 2020, no age limit)
"Visegrad Guitar competiton", Bratislava, Slovakia (II - 2021)
"RICMAV soloist music competition", Madrid, Spain (III - 2019, no age limit)
"Sinaia Guitar Festival", Sinaia, Romania (I - 2015)
"Giovani Chitarristi", Mottola, Italy (I - 2013)
"Guitar Art Festival", Belgrade, Serbia (I - 2013, II - 2015, III - 2010, 2016)
"Forum Gitarre Wien", Vienna, Austria (ESTA prize - 2015)
"Vojvodina Classic Guitar Festival", Novi Sad, Serbia (I - 2012)
"Republic Competition of Serbia", (I - 2012, 2014, 2016)
In 2018, he was awarded for the most successful concert in the 2017/2018 concert season by the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (among 50 other recitals).
Furthermore, Strbac himself was a Jury member on international competitions for young guitarists, such as “Pannonia guitar festival” in Serbia.
Collaboration with other musicians
Strbac holds concerts in various chamber ensembles, most notably:
- the Cross Atlantic Trio: the ensemble specialises in Spanish and Southamerican music and had notable achievements such as the big European Tour in 2023, as well as a release of their debut album "Danza, Baiao e Samba" with the Austrian label Orlando Records. In a review of the Album, American Record Guide has dubbed the trio members as "destined to become household names".
The CAT has also performed as part of important events in the Austrian Parliament and the Hofburg Palace.
- "Of Joys and Sorrows": duo with Romanian violinist Ana Molnar, with a focus on Astor Piazzolla's Tango Nuevo and Spanish Songs of Manuel de Falla. The project was started in 2023, and in the following year had their first Summer Tour in Austria, Serbia and Romania.
- duo with a baritone Hartmut Shulz, playing music of the Middle ages and Renaissance, regularly performing concerts all over Austria
- Vienna Guitar Sextet, with whom he performed in the famous Vienna Konzerthaus in 2017, as well as in other extremely successful concerts in Serbia and Austria.
He also has a strong affinity for teaching, having taught both beginners and advanced players with a lot of dedication.
From 2020-2023 he was a teacher at the Music School "Klangwelt" in Vienna.
Since 2023 he is teaching at the Music School "Le Conservatoire Wien" in Vienna.
His long-term career goals are to become a regular performer at the biggest guitar festivals in the world as well as a renowned University pedagogue.
David Strbac will release his debut Solo CD featuring Spanish music in 2025.