Performing before an international audience with the legendary Jose Carreras - and against the backdrop of the ancient Cambodian temple of Angkor Wat - is an experience that I am not likely to forget.

I accompanied Carreras in a vocal version of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez in a concert that raised funds for the Red Cross and for Cambodia's countless landmine victims, and when Carreras performed in Perth, I was again his guest soloist.

I began guitar tuition in Bosnia as a child and showed immediate promise. However, when my family came to Perth as refugees, times were hard and it was months before the family could even afford a second-hand guitar.

My talent was spotted by UWA's John Casey who suggested me as Carreras' accompanist at the Singapore Symphony Orchestra charity performance in Cambodia.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with first class Honours. I won the Flora Bunning Memorial Prize from the UWA School of Music to fund my study under the renowned guitarist, Craig Ogden, in England.

In April 2004 I released my debut CD Rouge Guitar. This was followed by a DVD featuring concerts, interviews and music clips, entitled In Conversation and on Stage.