Born in 1954 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, he studied clarinet and then composition with Uroš Krek in Ljubljana, continuing his studies in 1983–86 with Klaus Huber in Freiburg and in 1986–89 with György Ligeti in Hamburg.

He has won many international prizes including the Premio Europa in Rome (1985), Alban Berg Prize in Vienna (1995), Gaudeamus Prize in Amsterdam (1986), and the Vienna International Composition Prize (1991). He ha salso held a numer of scholarships including from the DAAD (1985–87), Heinrich Strobel Foundation of SWR Baden-Baden (1990, 2000, 2004) and the Künstlerhof Schreyahn (1993/94).

His commissioned works have been performed at Donaueschinger Musiktage (1988), Musikprotokoll Graz (1990), Akyoshidai Music Festival (1996 and 1997), Berlin Biennale (1997), Radio France (1999), Bavarian State Opera (2003), Warsaw Autumn Festival (2007), Slovenian Philharmonic (1999, 2004) and Slovenian Radio Symphony Orchestra (1993, 2007/08. His works have been widely performed in Europa, Japan, Canada, the USA, Australian, including at the ISCM World Music Days (1988, 1990, 1994, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011).

In 1995 he became professor of composition at the Music Academy in Ljubljana. Since 2002 he has been living in Karlsruhe and Ljubljana. Starting in 2000, he has resumed his concert activity as a clarinettist, often in duo with guitarist Klara Tomljanovič or with accordion player Luka Juhart and in recent years with both musicians in the Quo Vadis Trio.

 

Selected works (since 2000): Spin I and II for piano (2000–01), La bella donna dove amor si mostra for mixed choir to words by Milan Jesih (2000–01), Lamento for alto saxophone (2000–01), The Perfect Step, ballet music for tape (2000–01), Spin for accordion (2000–01), Pressure for big band, violin and electric guitar (2001), Vox for clarinet and accordion (2001), Rondo-vous for chamber ensemble and live electronics (2001–02), Concerto fluido for accordion and 16 instruments (2001–03), Trio fluido for two saxophones and piano (2002–03), Septetto fluido for wind quintet, piano and double bass (2002–03), Micro-ostinati for clarinet and guitar (2003), Reki for female / boys’ choir to Slovenian proverbs (2003), Chiton (Pst!) for guitar (2003), Kanon Rojakom for large orchestra, choir and narrator (2003), Stone Wind for saxophone, accordion and cello (2004), Koncertant(n)i k(o-j) u-je-jo for two clarinets and orchestra (2003–04), Stone Wind II for flute, clarinet, horn, drums, violin and double bass (2004), Stone Wind III for saxophone, accordion and cello (2004), Dice Song for nine (or more) musicians (2004), Genug for two guitars and accordion (2004), Cum Grano Salis for mezzo-soprano, flute, guitar and percussion (2004), Krog (Circle) II for string quartet (2005), Krog (Circle) III for accordion quartet (2005), Meteor, version for violin, cello and piano (2005), Piano Motorico for two pianos (2005), Stone Wind IV for accordion, piano and cello (2005), In jedem Sprung for soprano, percussion and live electronics, to words by Marianne Hall (2005), Pobegli trio (Escaped Trio) for accordion trio (2006), Stone Wind V for clarinet, accordion and cello (2006), A Venti...ur for eleven instruments (2006), A String of Pearls for viola and piano (2006), Izvir (Spring) for chamber orchestra (2006–07), Lakritze for mezzo-soprano, guitar and accordion (2013).