Classical guitarist Jelica Mijanović holds the position of guitar and ensemble instructor at Mohawk College while concurrently pursuing her doctoral degree in music performance at the University of Toronto. Fluent in French, English, Italian, German, Spanish, and Montenegrin, Jelica is passionate about sharing her fascination and knowledge of different cultures through her repertoire, teaching, and publications. Her debut album, “Meridians,” features rare guitar music from six continents.

Jelica’s remarkable achievements include winning eleven international guitar competitions and performing as a soloist at 30+ international music festivals and concert series in a dozen countries. She premiered works by eminent guitar composers, including the European premiere of Bogdanovic’s guitar concerto. In 2024, Jelica became the first guitarist to win the University of Toronto Doctoral Recital Competition. She also received this year’s Newcomer Artist Award from the Toronto Arts Foundation.

Native to Montenegro, Jelica graduated both in Music Performance and Music Pedagogy from Geneva, Switzerland, earning 25 scholarships during her studies. She was appointed at various music conservatories in Geneva, Bern, Fribourg, and Basel and worked as an adjunct professor at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland. Jelica is regularly invited as a lecturer and adjudicator to universities, international music festivals, and guitar competitions.

Jelica contributes to the expansion of guitar repertoire as an arranger and editor. She curated “Montenegro-Origin and Inspiration,” an anthology of the first advanced guitar compositions inspired by Montenegrin folklore, written for her. The book, compiled and co-edited by Jelica, is published by the Music Centre of Montenegro. Furthermore, she arranged and published a book of transcriptions of orchestral repertoire tailored for guitar beginners, financed by the Montenegrin Ministry of Culture.