Music Marathon 2023 I Vladimír Kopec

Slovak organist Vladimír Kopec studied organ playing at the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra under Ivan Sokol and Stanislav Šurin and composition with I. Parík. In 2008-2009, he received a scholarship to study at the Conservatorio "Santa Cecilia" in Rome, which he graduated with honors. During his studies there, he worked as an assistant organist in the Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican and as an organist during the general audiences of Pope Benedict XVI.He currently plays in Nitra, where he is also the director of the international Cathedral Organ Festival. As a composer, he created several works of mainly sacred music for choir and orchestra, such as the oratorio "Misericordia", the motet "Tu es Petrus" dedicated to Pope Francis and the Sistine Choir "Cappella Sistina". He performed in concert across Europe and during his travels he also played in the live broadcasts of many European televisions. He was also in charge of the musical preparation of Pope Francis' services in Šaštín, Slovakia, and during the National Pilgrimage of Slovaks in Rome.