In the podcast Supermoč from the newspaper house Delo our artistic director Živa Ploj Peršuh became the first guest of the new series Vzporedni svetovi. The series looks for common threads between such different worlds as conducting, chess, ballet and entrepreneurship, and finds that the rules of the game are not so different: attention, discipline, relationships, rhythm and courage. Happy listening!
A conversation about authority, humour and the quiet engine of the future
In conversation with journalist Petro Kovič Živa showed how her leadership philosophy is reflected in every orchestral project. A top-class performance is not the work of an individual but of the relationship between everyone on stage. Authority is born not of position but of knowledge, preparation and the ability to listen and guide without dominating.
Humour is also an important part of her toolkit. When standards are high and pressure mounts, humour acts as a valve that releases tension and brings people together without hurting anyone. Our young musicians feel this human warmth too, learning in rehearsals that orchestral work is a collective search for balance.
A special place in the conversation was given to art as the quiet infrastructure of the future. Živa pointed out that art is not society's decoration but its reflection and often its accelerator: it strengthens a sense of community, listening and empathy, and enables diversity to coexist. When business supports the arts, it is not supporting leisure, but an environment in which ideas, courage and social intelligence are born.
That is precisely why our ART BSA projects and programmes go beyond concert halls: they connect young people from Slovenia and abroad, build bridges and create structures in which talent can grow.
How this superpower flows into ART BSA
Živa Ploj Peršuh leads several platforms that foster the growth of young musicians: the Slovenian National Youth Orchestra, the Ljubljana International Orchestra and the BSA Academy. All these institutions are united by the conviction that art is not a one-way flow but a two-way exchange – they give Slovenia a voice in the world and bring the world to Slovenia.
SMO auditions
This philosophy is also reflected in the open auditions for the Slovenian Youth Orchestra (SMO). If you are aged between 14 and 26 and play strings, woodwind, brass or percussion, you can apply for the audition, which is held via video recordings. This means you can also apply if you are studying or living abroad. The aim is to bridge the gap between education and the professional world: from audition through rehearsals to performing on a prestigious stage, young musicians gain experience that prepares them for the future.
Summer Orchestra Camp POK26
And don't forget the Summer Orchestra Camp 2026 (POK26), which will take place from 17 to 24 August. This year's theme is Moč besede, and for a week we will explore how words and music complement and challenge each other. The camp is intended for young orchestral musicians and singers aged 12–22. Under the direction of Živa Ploj Peršuh and a team of mentors, you will make music in the orchestra or choir, take part in creative workshops and round off the week with a concert. Two packages are available, both of which can be paid in instalments.
