Period 1964 – 1968

In 1964, a handful of cultural enthusiasts gathered and established The student cultural and arts association Študent (KUD Študent) with the support of college directors in Maribor. This was the first step towards the union of all college students with the great aim of preserving and developing the Slovene dance and choral heritage. The result was a folklore group and a male choir.

The male choir KUD Študent was run under direction the talented only seventeen-year-old music student Stane JURGEC, who was invited to become the new conductor. The first period of growth and development began, which was reflected in the excellent repertoire and the interpretation of performed works. The choir also made some guest appearances in former Yugoslavia. At the beginning, it appeared with the folklore group, but later, it performed alone more and more frequently. Soon the news of its superb performances spread among general public and the leading people at the Union of Cultural Societies of Slovenia. The Union recognized the choir’s quality and honoured the young men with the permission to represent Slovene choir music also abroad. This was a great privilege, because travelling abroad was very tempting and unattainable for many people at that time.


Period 1969 – 1975

The male choir proved its quality at home and abroad, it grew even bigger and developed further. In early 70ies, the idea of performing together with the women’s choir sprang up. After the project was finished, however, both choirs went their own ways and the attempt to unite fell through. A few years later, in 1975, the University of Maribor was officially established and became the second Slovene university.

The number of students at faculties and colleges grew with every year, which was a good basis for a mixed choir. The idea, given by the male choir and the University of Maribor was finally excepted. Within the framework of the University, a mixed choir was established and named the Academic Choir Boris Kraigher. In the first year of its existence, it was conducted by Ivan VRBANČIČ, because Stane Jurgec was absent.


Period 1976 – 1990

A few years passed, in which the new mixed choir got through some teething troubles and learned to stand on its own feet. The young women brought a new wave of creativity as well as youthful enthusiasm, and caused a literal artistic boom. The choir had more than 100 members, their performances made a great impression on friends of choir music in Slovenia, former Yugoslavia and other countries. At home and foreign competitions, the choir won most prestigious laurels.

At the international competition in Cork (Ireland) in 1986, the choir reached the top of its success by wining the golden medal and the flattering title “best choir”. After this famous achievement and long years of hard work and success, Stane Jurgec started thinking about leaving the choir.

Period 1991 – 1994

The excellent conductor Stane Jurgec accepted the new challenge at the Slovene National Theatre in Maribor. The new commitment engaged him too much to dedicate himself to the choir as much as in the past. After 27 years, he handed over the conductor’s baton to his young colleague Alenka KORPAR. She conducted the choir three years.

Her work was far from easy. Many members left and new, younger joined, so the choir hat to start almost anew. According to the new era that had just started the choir was renamed The Maribor Academic Choir. Already after a short period with the new conductor, the choir won the silver medal at the Slovene choir competition Naša pesem in 1993. This was a proof that it had taken the right way. In Slovenia, every achievement at choir competitions at home or abroad meets with appraisal, because choir music has always been the most widely spread cultural activity in our country. It is the home competitions, which still open doors for our choir to take part at competitions abroad.


Period 1995 – 1999

Period 2000 – 2002

In 2000, Jože FŰRST – also an internationally recognized conductor – took over and directed the choir three years. In this time, the choir performed at various competitions and guest appearances, and won some prizes. In 2001, it won the silver medal at the Naša pesem competition. It took second place and won the title “choir with best programme” at the international competition in Lithuania. In 2002, the choir was also successful at a competition in Italy. Its performance made a great impression on the audience in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria and other countries. Unfortunately, the period with the new conductor was very short.

Period 2003 till today

In season 2002/2003 Jože Fürst took leave and was succeeded by the young, enthusiastic Hungarian conductor Zsuzsa BUDAVARI – NOVAK. She is determined to lead the choir on a new way of success. In spring 2003 we have visit Poland, where we took part in International academic choir festival, on competition Naša pesem 2003 were we awarded with bronze and in Christmas time we had many concerts across Štajerska.

In year 2004 the choir took place in University choir festival in Bologna and we celebrated our 40th anniversary with big concert. But the best moment came when we returned from International choir competition in Jersey with 2 prizes (gold in mixed choir competition and audience award for best choir).

Again in March 2005 we participated on Naša pesem competition and we won another silver medal with 87,3 points. In this season we have a lot in mind what to do and so we might see you on some competition.