Biography - short version

Critics have called his playing "brilliantly beautiful," and "extraordinary." In Croatia a journalist proclaimed him "...a young master of guitar."

In June 2009 Mak made his debut in Russia, performing the Rodrigo, Concierto de Aranjuez with the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra

Mak is Interviewed by JANA, the popular Slovenian Family  Magazine

July, 2009

Born in 1987 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Mak follows in a distinguished line of some of today’s finest young guitarists emerging from the Croatian school of guitar. Currently studying with Alvaro Pierri on the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna, Austria, he studied with the revered Ante Čagalj at the Elly Basić Conservatory of music in Zagreb. In June 2009 Mak made his debut in Russia, performing the Rodrigo, Concierto de Aranjuez with the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra with their principal guest conductor Vladimir Lande - the audience response was one that is rarely seen in Russia for such a young artist with a guitar concerto. In spring 2010, while on tour as a member of the Zagreb Guitar Quartet performing in the southern United States, Mak will be playing in concert with Christopher McGuire, guitarist and artistic director of the popular Allegro Guitar Series in Austin, Texas as well as taking part at the Lancaster Festival's outreach activities with conductor Gary Sheldon. In summer 2010 he will be performing the J. Rodrigo's Fantasia para un Gentilhombre with the Lancaster Festival Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gary Sheldon, principal guest conductor of the San Francisco Ballet and artistic director - conductor of the Lancaster Festival Orchestra, as well as doing the L. Boccherini's famous Introduction et Fandango with the Festival String Quartet in Lancaster Ohio. He will also make an appearance at the Major Arts for Minors Series in Lancaster and in New York City's Shandelee's Music Festival. Over past seasons he has performed solo and with the Zagreb Guitar Quartet throughout Europe and Canada, including recent performances in Dubai as well as Les Invalides - Paris, Chicago Cultural Center - Chicago, Koncerthus - Stockholm, Chapelle historique du Bon Pasteur - Montréal, Library and Archives Canada - Ottawa, the Amici del Loggione del Teatro alla Scala - Milan and Palace of Beloselsky-Belozersky - St. Petersburg.

Mak distinguishes himself as a versatile guitarist, playing classical and improvised  guitar music, and offers repertoire ranging from baroque to Spanish to modern music of his homeland. Mak also plays the music of some popular jazz artists such as Pat Metheny. During studying he successfully participated and was honored with highest prizes at: the First Andres Segovia International competition for young guitarists in Velbert, Germany, the Forum Gitarre Wien International competition, the International guitar competition in Arrenzano, Italy, the Fifth ťAnna AmaliaŤ competition for young guitarists in Weimar, Germany, the International Guitarart festival and competition in Belgrade, Serbia and as the youngest participant, he was awarded the third place in the category with no age limit on the II. Concorso Europeo di Chitarra Classica, Citta di Gorizia, in Italy in 2005. He has also been awarded First prizes at the National competitions in Slovenia as teenager. As a member of duo MM he has been awarded 4 first prizes: Croatian National Competition (2004, 2005); TEMSIG - Slovenian National Competition, Ljubljana (2005); Citta di Gorizia, Italy (2005).

Mak Grgić got his name after his father's favorite poet Mehmed Alija Mak Dizdar, one of the greatest and most acclaimed Bosnian poets of the 2nd half of the 20th Century. An ordinary walk with his father from some time ago sketched out his path for life--actually his love for the guitar. A world youth karate champion until a couple of years ago, after years of hard work and education, a month ago Mak received a standing ovation at a famous international festival in Russia. Critics predict him success, but one step at a time - he is just 22.