Jure Počkaj is increasingly recognised as one of the most accomplished baritones between Central and Southern Europe.
He began his training at the Ljubljana Academy of Music and gained his MM from the University of California, Los Angeles, studying with Vladimir Chernov. His awards include a Mimi Alpert Feldman Scholarship, a Phil Altman Scholarship, a UCLA Graduate Division Scholarship and a Stipend from the Richard-Wagner-Stipendienstiftung. He was also the Gold Medal Winner of the Young Singers’ Competition of Slovenia.
At the Slovenian National Theatre, Ljubljana, his roles have included the title role in Don Giovanni, Figaro Il barbiere di Siviglia, Taddeo L’Italiana in Algeri, Miller Luisa Miller, Giorgio Germont La traviata, and Il conte di Luna Il trovatore.
Elsewhere, his engagements have included Escamillo Carmen at the Mozart Festival Pravets; Malatesta Don Pasquale, Jack Rance La Fanciulla del West, Figaro Il barbiere di Siviglia, Don Carlo di Vargas La forza del destino, Miller Luisa Miller and ll conte di Luna Il trovatore at the Slovenian National Theatre, Maribor; Belcore L’elisir d’amore on tour with the Accademia Lirica Santa Croce, Trieste; the title role in Don Giovanni at the Palais Eschenbach, Vienna; Sharpless Madama Butterfly and the world premiere of The Man Davanti alla legge for the Piccolo Opera Festival; and Il conte di Luna Il trovatore at the Croatian National Theatre, Split, and Opera in Piazza, Oderzo.
Recent concert highlights have included Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem and Donati’s Orient Express with Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra; Saint-Saëns Oratorio de Noël with Slovenia Symphony Orchestra; and a New Year’s Day Prom for Raymond Gubbay Live at Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
Jure Počkaj is currently a member of the Croatian National Theatre, where his roles include Peter Hänsel und Gretel, Tonio Pagliacci, Papageno Die Zauberflöte, Lescaut Manon Lescaut, Ping Turandot, Nicola in Antonio Smareglia’s Nozze Istriane, Harlekin Ariadne auf Naxos, Giacomo Giovanna d’Arco and Alberich Das Rheingold.
At the Slovenian National Theatre, he sings Figaro Il barbiere di Siviglia and Don Alvaro Il viaggio a Reims, whilst for Teatro Verdi Trieste, he sings Giorgio Germont La storia della Traviata. During th3 2026 / 2027 season, he will return to Teatro Verdi Trieste to sing Belcore L’Elisir d’Amore.
He will also return to Piccolo Opera Festival for Giorgio Germont La traviata and make his debut with City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra singing Brhams’ Ein deutsches Requiem at Symphony Hall.
His performance as Nicola Nozze Istriane is now available on cpo CD.
Please note that this biography is not to be used for programmes. Current information is available on request.
