Tanja has participated in international guitar competitions in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia. The one in the Czech Republic (July 2-7, 2000) took place in the picturesque little town of Kutna Hora. It was a grand event altogether: concerts were organized every day, and over a hundred contestants arrived into Kutna Hora. The jury consisted of music professionals, who had gathered together from ten different countries around the world. The competition was divided into three categories, and Tanja won a second prize in the professional-level category.

The Johann Kaspar Mertz Competition that was organized in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia (June 25-30, 2001) was also fruitful. There were concerts every day, but the competition was open only for professional-level musicians. The final took place in a beautiful small stone church, and again Tanja got the second prize. This competition might be the first one in history, when both first and second prizes were given to Finns.