Biography

Education

David Strbac (1998) began his musical education in Belgrade, Serbia at Music School Mokranjac in 2007 in the class of prof. Vladimir Radulovic.

From 2011 to 2016 he continued his studies at 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 Vienna, studying under the world-renowned guitarist prof. Alvaro Pierri.

During the academic year 2020/2021, he was selected as one of the winners of the prestigious Anny Felbermayer-fonds scholarship, awarded to the most talented and successful students of the University. In 2021 he was also awarded the Concert-scholarship 2021 by Rotary Club Franz Schubert Vienna.

Strbac has further refined his artistry through lessons and masterclasses with many of the world's leading guitarists and musicians, including 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.

Solo career

An active concert performer from a very young age, Strbac gave his first solo recital in Belgrade in 2010 at the age of just 12.

Between 2008 and 2010 he was selected as a soloist in the young talent program of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, Belgrade Children’s Philharmonic.

Through this program he appeared in numerous concerts and television broadcasts across Serbia, including two solo performances in Serbia’s most prestigious classical music hall, Kolarac.

Since then, Strbac has performed solo recitals in Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, Austria, England and North Macedonia, receiving enthusiastic responses from audiences and critics alike.

In 2025 he had his debut as a soloist with an orchestra, performing 2 concerts with the Symphonieorchester Lienz, under direction of conductor Gerald Mair.

“He conveyed the music with sovereign control into his gifted hands - a fascinating interpretation of the Adagio from the Concierto de Aranjuez.”
— Ostitoler Bote after David’s performance with Symphonieorchester Lienz in 2025

“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 the completion of his studies in 2022, Strbac initiated and led the concert project Guitar evenings with Students of Alvaro Pierri, organized in collaboration with the Austrian Society for Music. Over 30 concerts were presented in Vienna as part of this series, featuring Strbac alongside his colleagues.

Today, Strbac performs approximately 30 concerts annually in a variety of concert formats.

In 2026, his debut solo studio album Devenir was released by the internationally renowned guitar label Contrastes Records (Sevilla/London). The album features Spanish guitar music by E. de la Maza, M. de Falla, J. Rodrigo, I. Albeniz and J. Turina, and has attracted considerable attention.

Devenir has been awarded the Gold Prize at the World Classical Music Awards, and was selected for the CD des Tages broadcast of the Viennese radio station Radio Klassik Stephansdom.

International Awards

David Strbac has received numerous awards at international competitions for young guitarists. Among the most significant are:

"Skopje international guitar festival", Skopje, N. Macedonia (I Prize – 2020, no age limit)
"Visegrad Guitar competiton", Bratislava, Slovakia (II Prize – 2021)
"RICMAV soloist music competition", Madrid, Spain (III Prize – 2019, no age limit)
"Sinaia Guitar Festival", Sinaia, Romania (I Prize – 2015)
"Giovani Chitarristi", Mottola, Italy (I Prize – 2013)
"Guitar Art Festival", Belgrade, Serbia (I Prize – 2013, II Prize – 2015, III Prize – 2010, 2016)
"Forum Gitarre Wien", Vienna, Austria (ESTA prize – 2015)
"Vojvodina Classic Guitar Festival", Novi Sad, Serbia (I Prize – 2012)
"Republic Competition of Serbia" (I Prize – 2012, 2014, 2016)

In 2018, he received the award for the most successful concert of the 2017/2018 concert season from the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, selected among 50 recital performances.

Strbac has also served as a jury member at international competitions for young guitarists, such as the Pannonia guitar festival in Serbia.

Chamber Music and Collaborations

Strbac is also an active chamber musician and regularly collaborates in a variety of ensembles.

Cross Atlantic Trio
This ensemble specialises in Spanish and South American repertoire. The trio undertook a major European tour in 2023 and released their debut album Danza, Baiao e Samba in 2024 with the Austrian label Orlando Records. In a review, American Record Guide described the trio members as "destined to become household names". The album has also been featured multiple times on Austria’s leading classical radio station Ö1. The trio has performed at prestigious events including concerts in the Austrian Parliament and the Hofburg Palace.

Of Joys and Sorrows
Duo with Romanian violinist Ana Molnar focusing on Astor Piazzolla's Tango Nuevo and Spanish Songs of Manuel de Falla. The project began in 2023 and in 2024 completed its first summer tour in Austria, Serbia and Romania.

Duo with baritone Hartmut Shulz
Performing music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance in concerts across Austria.

Vienna Guitar Sextet
With this ensemble Strbac performed at the Wiener Konzerthaus in 2017 as well as in highly successful concerts in Serbia and Austria.

Teaching

Alongside his concert career, Strbac has a strong commitment to teaching and has worked with both beginner and advanced guitar students.

From 2020 to 2023 he taught at the Music School Klangwelt in Vienna.

Since 2023 he has been teaching at the Music School Le Conservatoire Wien in Vienna.

His long-term artistic goals include performing regularly at the world’s most important guitar festivals and developing a distinguished career as a university pedagogue.