Nataša Črnugelj studied under the guidance of prof. Andrej Grafenauer and prof. Tomaž Rajterič at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana and graduated in the first generation of guitar graduates. During her schooling, she competed very successfully in national competitions of the Republic of Slovenia and improved her knowledge at numerous seminars with internationally renowned professors.
She started her teaching career as a high school student and gained experience at the Domžale Music School, the Franc Šturm Music School in Ljubljana and the Sežana Music School, and since 1995 she has been employed at the Postojna Music School. Nataša has been an indispensable mentor to students and chamber groups at numerous public events, she was the head of the school guitar department for several years, and from 2009 to 2015 she was also the head of the Guitar alliance of Primorska Music schools in Slovenia.
Her students have been awarded forty gold, thirteen silver and three bronze plaquettes, and have won twenty-six prizes at numerous international and national competitions, including five absolute victories.
Nataša Črnugelj is a member of the juries for solo guitar and guitar duos, and a TEMSIG expert on the selection of competition programmes. Many of her most successful pupils were invited to record Radio Koper's youth radio programmes, and she was also a mentor to many of them when they were taking the music grammar school entrance exams. Her former pupils are among the most renowned musicians and teachers in Slovenia, some of whom have gone on to excellent careers abroad. She was one of the first guitar teachers who were connecting with professional societies abroad and organising the first training courses and recitals for domestic teachers under the guidance of renowned foreign musicians and lecturers. She regularly teaches at summer guitar schools and is co-founder of the international music festival "Guitar Week in Postojna".
In recognition for her professional work in the field of education and culture, she has received:
Gerbič Award of the Slovenian Music Schools Association 2023
Silver Award of the Municipality of Postojna 2014
Vilhar Award of the Municipality of Postojna 2023