Robert Belinić was the first guitarist ever to be a winner at the YCA International Auditions. Born in 1981 in Croatia, he began studying classical guitar at age eleven. Belinić has received multiple international awards, including the 2002 Ivo Vuljević Award for outstanding young Croatian musicians. He performed in 2008 with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, under the direction of Michael Stern, conductor for the Kansas City Symphony. During his tour, he is premiering YCA composer-in-residence Chris Rogerson’s Air for solo guitar.