Petra Strahovnik (Celje, 1986) studied composition with Uroš Rojko in Ljubljana and continued her master’s studies at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague with Peter Adriaansz and Martijn Padding. Her work often stems from themes that transcend music: questions about human experience, social challenges, and universal existence. Her creative process embraces cross-disciplinary research and a deep listening practice, where freedom of interpretation plays a central role, echoing the spirit of the Socratic quote: »I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only encourage them to think.«

She is internationally recognized for her fearless exploration of sound and for connecting music with other artistic disciplines. She received the Grand Prize at the 66th International Rostrum of Composers for her composition Prana. In collaboration with the ensemble Modelo62, she created the project disOrders, which addresses themes of neurodiversity and mental health through music and performance art.

Her works have been presented at numerous international festivals, including MATA Festival New York, Ultraschall Berlin, November Music, Gaudeamus Muziekweek, Music Biennale Zagreb, TROMP Percussion Eindhoven, Festival Musikprotokoll (ORF), Amsterdam Dance Event, International Ankara Music Festival, LSO St Luke’s (London), ECCO Festival, Ljubljana Festival, Festival Internacional de Música y Danza de Granada, and Alte Oper Frankfurt. She has collaborated with leading ensembles such as Ensemble Modern, Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, Asko|Schönberg, HIIIT, Wespoke, RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, and Flux Quartet, as well as conductors including Bas Wiegers, Rossen Milanov, Steven Loy, Lucie Leguay, Martina Batič, and David Niemann. Her interdisciplinary approach has led her to collaborate not only with musicians but also with pioneers of performance art, such as the collective Black Market International, blurring the boundaries between sound, body, and space in immersive, durational works.

Her achievements include the Berlin Art Prize for Music 2021 (Akademie der Künste) and the Villa Concordia artist residency in Bamberg, awarded by the Bavarian Ministry of Science and the Arts. With her radical, exploratory approach, she pushes the boundaries of contemporary music and creates works that challenge and shake up the listener, inviting them to actively experience the music.