G r o u p      i n t r o d u c t i o n

Cantemus (“Let's sing!”) is a vocal group which was founded in October 2000 by Matjaž Kač, who united singers from his choruses for a special reason – a wish to perform a different kind of music (such as altered or chromatic resonance and chord progression, a resonance developing rhythmic pulse and jazz groove – in other words: vocal jazz and pop music). Vocal jazz is a style of music that is common and well-known around the world and uncommon and waiting to be heard in Slovenia . And this is our challenge.

We have performed throughout Slovenia as well as abroad and have been very well received by the audience and by the expert public, proving that we are on the right way to reaching our main purpose. We have been selected among the best groups at the national competition for small vocal groups four times: twice at Šmartno pri Litiji, and once in Novo mesto and Slovenska Bistrica, thus becoming the Bearer of the Gold Seal of the Republic of Slovenia Public Fund for Cultural Activities. We have also twice received a special Award for Best Programme and one Best Performance Award.

The performed compositions and arrangements are especially interesting to an audience who is eager for change. As we are faced with a lack of musical arrangements, our Matjaž dedicates his spare time to arranging a variety of well-known melodies, from Slovenian evergreens to Dalmatian songs.

In the season of 2002/2003, we started a new project – a festival of a capella vocal pop groups "SREDI ZVEZD" (Amidst the Stars), which has taken place in Žalec five times already. A special guest at this year’s festival was one of the leading European a capella vocal pop groups – The Flying Pickets. With this festival, Slovenia has entered a new era in a capella singing, and at the same time obtained another first-rate musical event. This year, we have won the 1st Prize of the Public to the best group of their choice, the 1st Prize of the Jury, received a special Award for Best Performance of a Slovene Song and for Best Programme, thus becoming absolute winners, in which we take special pride.

We have also participated three times at the Dalmatian Song Festival in Kaštel Kambelovac, once at the vokal.total festival in Graz , and have held concerts in Munich , Austria , and Dalmatia . We have had over 260 public performances altogether, nearly 150 of which were full concerts.