The young Slovenian conductor Mojca Lavrenčič emerged as the outstanding winner of the competition La Maestra 2026 in Paris. In addition to First Prize, she was awarded five of the seven special prizes – an exceptional achievement. These included the International Orchestras Committee Prize, the ECHO Committee Prize (European Concert Hall Organisation), the French Concert Halls and Orchestras Committee Prize, the Orchestre de Paris Musicians’ Prize, and the ARTE Committee Prize.

“An exceptional victory: Mojca Lavrenčič combines technical precision with artistic depth and a natural authority.”

— International music press

Born in Vienna in 1993 and raised in Slovenia, Mojca is a conductor known for her musical integrity, expressive depth, and human-centered leadership. She was surrounded by music from an early age. Her mother, herself a passionate musician, had once dreamed of becoming a conductor. Although Mojca was not initially aware of this, it quietly shaped her path to the podium.

She studied conducting at the University of Ljubljana with Marko Letonja, gaining her first professional experience at the SNG Opera and Ballet Ljubljana. During the pandemic, she moved to Switzerland to study with Andrea Marcon at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, where she further developed and refined her artistic voice.