The Celje String Orchestra was established on 12 May 1945. In 1988, Prof. Nenad Firšt took up the post of the orchestra’s artistic director and conductor. On its 45th anniversary the orchestra released a second album comprising works by Tartini, Vivaldi and Ipavec. In the 1990/91 season, the ensemble inaugurated its own concert series featuring performances of five season concerts, which have become its established programming model. Aiming to present their art to wider audiences, the orchestra has since 1988 toured across Slovenia, appeared in Grevenbroich, Germany, and held several concerts in Zagreb. Over the recent years, the String Orchestra has taken part in prestigious international festivals in Italy, Croatia and Great Britain. The ensemble is regularly featured in the concert activities of Jeunesses Musicales Slovenia and the Society of Slovenian Composers, and records for the broadcasting companies RTV Slovenia and RAI.

Before commanding the attention of jazz buffs, saxophone player Resnik (1978) was a member of Siddharta, a very popular Slovenian rock act. Resnik studied jazz saxophone at the Klagenfurt Conservatory of Music. He has played with some of the finest names in jazz, both national and international artists.

The Cerkno brass band has given many successful performances at local and international venues and competitions, as well as brass band group concerts. In 2006 the band released a CD featuring their live performances. Every year the band caters to its audience with fresh thematic concerts. Since 2015 the international wind instrument festival Pihnfest has been part of its activities. Its current image is the work of renowned clarinet player Andrej Zupan, who has conducted the band since 2004.

The Chamber Choir Ave was established in 1984 in the Ljubljana parish of Vič as Vocal Group AVE. The group soon ventured out of its parish’s borders and with its high quality adaptations of a wide variety of choral music expanded its listenership at home and abroad. At the same time, it transformed into a chamber choir, comprised of singers from all over Slovenia. AVE’s members are above all driven by an inextinguishable desire to receive the profoundest possible experience choral singing can offer. The choir prides itself with numerous awards and acknowledgements from domestic and international festivals and competitions.

Founded in 1989, Chamber Choir Orfej is one of Slovenia’s most prominent choirs, with numerous awards to its name. In 2010, it won the gold award and second place in the mixed choir category at the Slovene National Choir Competition. In 2013, Orfej earned the City of Pecs Prize and second place at the International Choir Competition in Hungary. In 2016, the choir scored 94.3 points at the Slovene National Choir Competition, winning gold, third place, and a special award for a contemporary Slovenian piece. Later that year, Orfej won first prize and a special award at the International Ohrid Choir Festival. In 2018, the choir placed third in the mixed choir category at the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing in Tours.

Cherry Flavoured is a funk-rock band from Celje that blends rock with elements of funk and blues. The lineup includes Luka Kolar, Simon Jezernik, Alen Andrejčič, and Aljaž Mavrič. They have ten original songs and perform covers of bands like RHCP, Hendrix, Siddharta, and Dan D. They won Music Battle, played at Lent, Vičstok, Ful Fest, and have supported acts such as Kokosy, Mrfy, MI2, Big Foot Mama, and others.

Cherry Wine is an eight-member group of professional musicians inspired by Amy Winehouse. Their calling is in reviving her legacy not imitating it.

Former member of the famed The Walkabouts from Seattle (USA), Chris Eckman is based in Ljubljana. As well as co-owner of the world music label Glitterbeat, Eckman is a producer, singer-songwriter and leader of several music bands (e.g., The Frictions, The Strange).

Christian Kroupa, also known as Alleged Witches, is an internationally renowned DJ and producer covering techno, electro, EBM, and more. A Red Bull Music Academy alumnus, he performed at Tokyo’s The Liquidroom and released on labels like Farbwechsel and Dimensions Recordings. His EP Initiation Rituals was praised by Andrew Weatherall. Since 2021, he collaborates with Le Chocolat Noir as Black Dot and performs at top European clubs and festivals.

Clavimerata is known for performing a diverse range of works from various musical periods and styles, combining traditional, classical, and modern elements. Their performances focus on exploring musical content, often collaborating with singers, actors, percussionists, accordionists, and double bass players. The ensemble’s unique approach fosters engaging musical dialogue with the audience, earning excellent reactions at their concerts. They perform major trio works and continually expand their repertoire with new compositions written for them.