serious ensemble zagreb

Dora Remenar (Zagreb, 1994) began her studies in Composition at the Music Academy in Zagreb in 2014, after completing the III Gymnasium and the Zlatko Baloković Music School. She studied under Professor Davorin Kempf. During her studies, she also spent time at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana as part of the Erasmus program, studying under Professor Dušan Bavdek. She graduated in 2018 in the class of Professor Frano Parać, with the composition Incarnation for trumpet, trombone, and orchestra. In 2015, she also began studying Conducting in the class of Professor Mladen Tarbuk, and in 2021, she graduated in conducting the opera Cinderella by Jules Massenet, under the mentorship of Professor Ivan Josip Skender. She is the recipient of the Rector’s Award for the opera production of Gustav Mahler's From the Wonderful Horn of the Little Boy and the aforementioned Massenet opera Cinderella. Notable projects include performances with the Zagreb Philharmonic String Quartet and the mixed choir HOKUD Sloboda at a concert celebrating the 150th anniversary of the choir’s founding in the small hall of Lisinski, as well as collaborations with the Asmangu Ensemble, Cantus Ensemble, and Serious Ensemble. Since 2018, she has been the conductor of the HOKUD Sloboda choir, and since 2023, she has led the female ensemble Canticum and regularly performs with the vocal ensemble Gospodnetić Singers.

Nikolina Vukoja Pinjuh (born in Split, 1992) began her musical education at the Široki Brijeg Music School, where she completed elementary music school under the guidance of Prof. Mihaela Pavlović and attended the first year of high school in the class of Prof. Enita Trbonja. She also completed her first year at the Fra Dominik Mandić General Gymnasium in Široki Brijeg. Driven by a desire to expand her knowledge, she moved to Zagreb in 2008, continuing her education at the Pavle Markovac Music School under the mentorship of Prof. Dea Kekelj, while also taking private lessons with Prof. Tamara Coha Mandić. In 2011, she enrolled at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, majoring in flute, and graduated in 2016 in the class of Prof. Karolina Šantl Zupan. She completed her postgraduate specialist studies in 2020 at the Music Academy in Zagreb under the mentorship of Prof. Karolina Šantl Zupan, with a specialist thesis on Sonatas for Flute and Harpsichord in Baroque Music, exploring Italian, French, and German styles under the mentorship of Prof. Pavao Mašić. Throughout her education, she showcased her talent and skills in numerous concerts as a soloist, a member of chamber ensembles, and as part of wind and symphony orchestras across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Hungary, Germany, and Belgium. Since 2006, she has performed as a soloist with the Pavle Markovac Music School string orchestra and later with the Mostar Symphony Orchestra in 2016 and 2018. From 2018 to 2021, she served as the orchestra's principal flutist. She has participated in national and international competitions and attended masterclasses with esteemed flutists. Since 2018, she has been a flute professor at the Pavle Markovac Music School in Zagreb, guiding students to numerous awards and actively contributing to the development of young musicians.

Dora Draclin (Zagreb) began her musical education at the age of seven at the Pavao Markovac Music School in Zagreb. After completing high school in the class of Prof. Nevenka Kirin, she enrolled in oboe studies at the Music Academy in Zagreb, under the guidance of Professor Branko Mihanović. During her education, she won awards at regional, national, and international competitions and has participated in performances at Young Musicians cycle at the Matica Hrvatska, at the "Očić Salon," and the Darko Lukić series. Later, Dora's music preference focuses mainly on the chamber repertoire, so she continuously performes with chamber ensembles at various cultural festivals across Croatia. Throughout her studies and later on, she furthered her oboe skills at masterclasses with many distinguished professors (Christian Schmitt, David Walter, Thomas Indermühle, Seung Eun Lee, Tilmann Zahn, Matthias Arter, Guy Porat). During her studies, she was a two-time recipient of the University of Zagreb Excellence Scholarship. In 2013, she graduated with excellent success. In 2019 and 2020, Dora continued her musical development at seminars within the International Oboe Academy in Udine, where she had the opportunity to work with world-renowned oboists such as Domenico Orlando, Alexei Ogrintchouk, Ramon Ortega Quero, and Simone Sommerhalder. She is currently employed as an oboe professor at the Pavao Markovac Music School and is actively involved in chamber music. A recent addition to her biography is her membership in the reed quintet Kalamos, which she has been a part of since 2024.

Yaroslav Sadovyy (born in 1984), a clarinetist, was born in Lviv, Ukraine. He attended the S. Krushelnytska Music School and, in 2002, enrolled at the M. Lysenko National Music Academy in the class of Prof. Y. Korchinsky. He obtained his master’s degree with honors in 2007.During the 2004–2005 season, he held the position of principal clarinetist at the Lviv Philharmonic and remained a member of the orchestra until 2009 after completing his studies. Between 2003 and 2009, he collaborated with various orchestras (Leopolis Orchestra, Virtuosos of Lviv), performing throughout Europe, Central, and South America. He further honed his skills under the guidance of renowned clarinetists such as A. Kazakov and P. Messina.Since 2009, he has been living in Croatia, teaching clarinet at the Makarska Music School, Josip Hatze Music School in Split, and Ivo Tijardović Music School in Delnice. Since 2014, he has been a clarinet professor at Pavao Markovac Music School in Zagreb. He regularly gives recitals in Croatia and abroad and frequently performs as a member of chamber ensembles.

Sebastian Tarbuk (1997, Zagreb) is a Croatian bassoonist. After graduating high school in 2015, he began his studies at the Music Academy in Zagreb with professor Žarko Perišić. After graduating in 2021, he furthered his music education at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln with professor Ulrich Hermann, where he graduated in 2024. He attended masterclasses of internationally recognized bassoonists such as Milan Turković, Matthias Racz, Fredrik Ekdahl, Ole Kristian Dahl and others. He won awards at competitions such as Varaždin Woodwind&Brass (3rd prize, solo), Concorso internazionale Città di Palmanova (2nd prize, chamber) and the Competiton of Croatian Music and Dance Pedagogues’ Society (1st prize, chamber), and the Judita Award for best performance at the Split Summer Festival 2021. He performed with orchestras and ensembles such as: Ensemble Reflektor, Studio Musikfabrik, Ensemble VENTUS, Cantus Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra Liechtenstein, Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka, Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonietta Tübingen, Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, Croatian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Croatian National Theatre in Osijek. He performed at many important international festivals such as the 67th Warsaw Autumn, Osor Summer Festival 2017, Split Summer Festival 2021, European Church Music Festival 2022. and Music Biennale Zagreb 2017. As of 2024, he is the solo bassoonist of the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka.

Irma Dragičević (born in 1995 in Varaždin) is a versatile Croatian soprano and crossover singer, recognized for her dynamic performances in opera, musical theater, and solo concerts. She began singing in the Mali slavuj workshop under Prof. Zdenka Knapić and later studied cello and voice at the Varaždin Music School. In 2020, she graduated in vocal performance from the Zagreb Academy of Music under Prof. Lidija Horvat Dunjko. She also completed the Broadway Academy in 2017, specializing in musical theater and film.Irma made her operatic debut at the Croatian National Theatre (HNK) Zagreb in 2017 as Chocolka in Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen. She has since collaborated with leading conductors such as Ivan Josip Skender, Mladen Tarbuk, and Berislav Šipuš, regularly performing with the Cantus Ensemble and HRT Jazz Orchestra. Her musical theater credits include starring roles in The Last Five Years (HNK Varaždin), Alphonsine (Komedija Theater), and Les Misérables (Varaždin Arena). In 2019, she debuted as Adele in Die Fledermaus and starred in Edgar Allan Poe’s Horror Diptych. She also premiered Olja Jelaska’s chamber opera In Search of the Blue Bird at the Osor Music Evenings.A recipient of the Rector’s Award (2017), Dean’s Award (2018/2019), and County Award (2019), she continues to expand her career. Recent highlights include her debut in Parisian Life (Madlenianum, Belgrade), Countess Maritza (HNK Varaždin), and Pop Misa Mediterana. She is set to lead in Regoč (Lisinski Hall, 2024) and the world premiere of Fatima’s Prophecy. Beyond theater, Irma actively pursues a solo career, blending classical and contemporary music, and is currently working on a new crossover single.

Martina Jembrišak (b. 1995) is a Croatian accordionist, producer, and music manager recognized for her precision, expressiveness, and deep musical personality (Cantus). In 2020, she received the Ivo Vuljević Award for outstanding artistic achievement. Her repertoire spans from Baroque to avant-garde, including tango, orchestral, and chamber music. She has significantly expanded the contemporary accordion repertoire, premiering over 60 works composed for her by artists from Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America.Martina has performed at prestigious venues worldwide, including CSO Ada Ankara, Teatro Louletano (Portugal), Centro Cultural Português (Cabo Verde), Dushanbe Opera House (Tajikistan), Konzerthaus Detmold, Arena Zagreb, Lisinski Concert Hall, and HNK Split. She has appeared at major festivals such as Dubrovnik Summer Festival, Ljubljana Festival, Hong Kong Contemporary Music Festival, and Chopin Piano Fest Prishtina. Her performances have been broadcast on Croatian Radio & Television, Slovenian National Television, and radio WHUP America. She has won over 40 international competition awards across Europe. In 2014 and 2015, she received Dean’s and Rector’s Awards for excellence from the University of Pula.As part of Duo Artina with flutist Andrea Jelavić, she released the album Male priče (Aquarius Records, 2021). She also contributed to 25 Years of Rucner String Quartet (Croatia Records, 2023). Martina holds postgraduate degrees in accordion (Konzertexamen, Hochschule für Musik Detmold) and music management (Chopin University, Warsaw). In 2024, she will release her debut solo album, Echoes of Croatia: Accordion Adventures, supported by Croatia’s Ministry of Culture and Media.

Veronika Ćiković (b. 1997) is a Croatian harpist recognized for her artistry and technical mastery. She studied at the Music Academy in Zagreb under Diana Grubišić Ćiković, earning her master’s degree magna cum laude in 2020. She continued her education with a specialist study focusing on French harp music of the early 20th century and further honed her skills at Civica Scuola di Musica Claudio Abbado in Milan with Irina Zingg.As a soloist, Veronika has performed with the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, Zadar Chamber Orchestra, Rijeka Chamber Orchestra, and the Acoustic Project Ensemble, premiering Dubravko Palanović’s Prije oluje. Her performance of Debussy’s Danse sacrée et danse profane with the Zagreb Philharmonic in 2020 earned her the Dean’s Award. She also delivered a notable performance of Mozart’s Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra KV 299 at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival in 2022. Veronika has won first prizes at the HDGPP National Competitions, Antonio Salieri International Competition, Iberico Competition, and Bistrički Zvukolik, both as a soloist and in chamber music. In 2022, she and flutist Lucija Stilinović won first prize at the Suoni d’Arpa International Competition in Italy. She has attended masterclasses with renowned harpists such as Patrizia Tassini, Irina Zingg, Chantal Mathieu, and Ion Ivan Roncea and participated in the Harp Masters Academy in Switzerland. In 2018, she performed with the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence.Veronika is a regular collaborator with the Zagreb Philharmonic, HRT Symphony Orchestra, Croatian National Theatre (Zagreb and Rijeka), and Cantus Ensemble.

Viktor Čižić (b. 1996, Zagreb, Croatia) is a pianist known for his dynamic approach, spanning solo and chamber performances, composition, and improvisation. He has performed in Europe and the U.S., including at The Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.), Het Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Amphitheater in Pula, and Vatroslav Lisinski Hall (Zagreb). As a soloist, Viktor has collaborated with top Croatian orchestras, performing works such as Grieg's Piano Concerto, Bartók's 3rd Piano Concerto, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, and Schnittke’s Concerto for Piano and Strings. He also premieres contemporary piano concerti, including those by Croatian composers Juraj Marko Žerovnik and Krešimir Klarić, as well as his own arrangements. He has worked with conductors like Valenin Egel, Tomislav Fačini, and Berislav Šipuš.An active composer, Viktor’s works and arrangements have been performed by ensembles such as the Astana Opera Orchestra and the Croatian Radiotelevision Tamburitza Orchestra. He has also written for film, theater, and radio, and his master’s thesis explored improvisation in contemporary pianism. He has performed with chamber ensembles like the Cantus Ensemble, Antiphonus Ensemble, and the Turangalila Quartet, and collaborated in opera, ballet, theater, and jazz projects, at multiple Croatian theaters and venues. Viktor studied in Zagreb and Amsterdam before earning his master's in 2021. He currently works as a pianist with the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra and has received awards such as the Yearly Prize of the Society of University Teachers Zagreb and the Darko Lukić Diploma.

Eleonora Hil (Zagreb, 1996) began studying violin at the Elly Bašić Music School with Prof. Helena Žubrinić. She continued her education at the high school level under Prof. Borivoj Matinić Jerčić and later enrolled at the Music Academy in Zagreb in 2014, studying with Prof. Martin Draušnik. She has participated in masterclasses with notable instructors including Eva Hühn, Illan Schneider, and Leonid Sorokov, among others. Hil has won numerous awards at regional, national, and international competitions. She earned multiple second and first-place prizes in chamber music, orchestra, and solo categories, including first-place at the 2013 International Young String Competition in Niš. She has performed as a member of prestigious ensembles such as the Zagreb Philharmonic, Croatian Chamber Orchestra, and the orchestras of the Croatian National Theatres in Rijeka and Split. In 2013, she performed with the Music Youth Chamber Orchestra at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, under the direction of Prof. Pavle Zajcev. She has been a member of the Cantus Ensemble and participated in the Venice Biennale in 2019. Additionally, she was a member of the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra (2018, 2019, 2021), working with renowned conductors and mentors. Hil has also auditioned for the EUphony Orchestra and performed as concertmaster and soloist with various youth orchestras.Hil graduated with honors from the Music Academy in Zagreb in 2021. She has performed extensively across Croatia and internationally in cities such as Vienna, Budapest, Salzburg, and Sarajevo.

Sven Marković (born April 1, 1993, Zagreb, Croatia) is a skilled violin teacher, school leader, and hobby woodworker. He began his education at Jordanovac Elementary School (1999–2007), followed by the Pavao Markovac Music School (2006–2010), where he honed his musical skills. He later completed his high school education at III. Gymnasium (2007–2011) in Zagreb. Marković pursued a degree in music, earning a Master of Music from the Music Academy in Zagreb (2010–2015).Marković's career as a violin teacher began in 2014 at the Music School Muzički Atelje, followed by a teaching role at the Pavao Markovac Music School in 2016. He later taught at the Ksaver Šandor Gjalski Elementary School in Zabok (2016–2017) and at the Pregrada Music School (2016–present). He also worked as a teacher at ŠUDIGO Zabok (2018–2019). In addition to teaching, Marković has led several schools, including the Nilaya Music and Yoga School in Slovenia (2019–present) and the Rezonanca Music Studio in Zagreb (2022–present).Marković is passionate about violin education and music in general, helping students achieve their musical potential. Alongside his teaching, he nurtures his hobby of woodworking, a craft he enjoys in his personal time.

Marta Balenović (born 1996, Bjelovar, Croatia) began her musical education at the Vatroslav Lisinski Music School in Bjelovar, where she graduated in violin under Prof. Robert Boldižar. In 2016, Marta enrolled at the Music Academy in Zagreb, studying with Prof. Milan Čunek, and graduated in 2021. Throughout her education, Marta refined her skills at various seminars, including the Weikersheim International Music Campus, and seminars organized by the Croatian Music Youth in Grožnjan with instructors such as Anđelko Krpan, Milan Čunek, and Pavle Zajcev. She has also earned awards in both solo and chamber music categories at national competitions. Marta has performed as a freelance member of the Zagreb Philharmonic, CEMAN Orchestra, Croatian Chamber Orchestra, Zagreb Chamber Orchestra, and the Jazz Orchestra of the Croatian Radio Television. In 2018, she performed with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Marta is a regular member of the new ensemble Cantus Junior and frequently performs with the Cantus Ensemble.Since the beginning of her academic studies, Marta has participated in various experimental artistic projects and regularly engages in performing contemporary music. She is currently employed as a viola teacher at the Music School in Varaždin.

Janko Franković (born 1999, Zagreb, Croatia) began his musical education in 2006 at the Pavao Markovac Music School, studying under Neva Begović, and later graduated with Prof. Smiljan Mrčela. In June 2022, Janko graduated from the Music Academy in Zagreb, under the mentorship of the renowned cellist Monika Leskovar. Throughout his education, Janko won several awards at regional and national music competitions, as well as Knowledge Oscars in chamber music (trio, quartet, and quintet). He was also the recipient of multiple Rector's Awards (2019, 2020, 2021). Janko graduated from the Classical Gymnasium and has a strong passion for chamber music. During his studies, he collaborated with well-known artists such as Z. Rucner, V. Peljhan, G. Bakrač, J. Gubajdulina, Z. Draušnik, and D. Detoni, and performed in numerous ensembles and orchestras, including the Zagreb Philharmonic, NoBorders Orchestra, HRBA, ASMANGU, Cantus, and MYO. He has studied with renowned pedagogues, including D. Grigorian, G. Tavares, M. Flaksman, and B. Pustički. In the 2018/19 season, Janko passed the audition for the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, performing on their Easter tour under the direction of Jonathan Nott and Tobias Wögerer. In November 2020, he auditioned successfully for a position with the Zagreb Philharmonic. Janko was also part of the Internationales Orchesterinstitut Attergau in August 2021, led by members of the Vienna Philharmonic. Since 2022, he has been a member of the No Borders Orchestra. As a soloist and chamber musician, Janko has performed at the 56th "Darko Lukić" Lecture Series, Milko Kelemen Days, and the Zagreb Music Biennale, regularly premiering works by Croatian composers. In the 2022/23 season, he performed in the Zagreb Philharmonic's chamber music concert cycle.

Matija Kasaić Drakšić is a double bassist, producer, sound engineer, and educator with a diverse professional background. He earned a Master's degree in Double Bass from the University of Zagreb’s Music Academy in 2020. In 2018, he completed an Erasmus internship as a solo double bassist at Paradiso Films Documentaries Ltd., in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh. His music education began at Elly Bašić Music School in Zagreb, followed by further studies at the School of Applied Arts and Design in Zagreb. As a performer, Matija has worked with renowned orchestras and ensembles, including Theater Ulysses, the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, the Zagreb Philharmonic, the Cantus Ensemble, and the Music Biennale Zagreb. In addition to his performing career, he has been a producer and sound engineer since 2021, running his audiovisual services business specializing in production, recording, and editing. Matija has also made significant contributions to education and community engagement. He has taught double bass at Elly Bašić Music School and led the "Music in Clinics" project, organizing concerts for patients at the Tumor Clinic of the Sisters of Mercy University Hospital in Zagreb from 2018 until the completion of his studies. His leadership experience includes serving as President of the Music Academy's Student Council and representing the Academy at the University of Zagreb Senate. He was awarded the Rector’s Award in 2018 for his performance in Cosi fan tutte. Matija currently works as a researcher, mastering technician, and therapist with XSystem, a research company focused on the recovery of children with epilepsy and trauma. He is involved with patients at Srebrnjak Children's Hospital and Lviv Regional Children's Clinical Hospital.

Helena Skljarov (Zagreb, 1993) graduated in musicology from the Music Academy of the University of Zagreb in 2017 with a thesis on the analysis of 20th-century music. She completed her composition Master studies in 2020 under the mentorship of Professor Berislav Šipuš with her opera Nothing. Almost for voices, orchestra, and electronics. As part of the Erasmus program, she studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse in Lyon in 2019/2020 under the mentorship of professor Martin Matalon. She has received numerous awards still as a student, including the Rector's Award for her composition Pulsar, premiered in Zagreb in 2019. In June 2020, she was selected as a resident composer at the Aix-en-Provence festival, where she attended masterclasses with Garth Knox and Kaija Saariaho. In 2021, her string quartet Silence was elected by International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) to be performed at the World New Music Days in China. In 2022, she participated in the Novalis festival, winning the award for the best work by a young composer for her trio Nostos. In November 2022, she held her first solo multimedia exhibition at the Music-Mission-Vision festival in Zagreb, where she presented her multimedia works and performance recordings. A significant premiere in 2023 was her symphony "Portrait Dore P." for orchestra, video, and electronics, conducted by Maestro Pascal Rophé, commissioned by the HRT orchestra to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Dora Pejačević's death. In 2025, the symphony was selected by the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) to be performed at the World New Music Days in Portugal. In 2023, she founded the Serious Ensemble Zagreb, of which she is the artistic director. 2024 she was selected as a member of the Program Committee for the Cantus Ensemble, led by Berislav Šipuš at the Croatian Composers’ Society, for the period of 2025-2027. Helena has over fifty compositions, and she currently explores interdisciplinary art, performance art, and the intersection of visual and musical arts. As a musicologist, she has published over fifty critical and analytical texts on contemporary music and regularly contributes to concert reviews and score analyses.

Andrija Nazlić was born on February 16, 2000, in Split, where he completed primary and secondary school. Throughout all twelve years of his education, he also attended the Youth Drama Studio at the City Youth Theatre (GKM). In the same theater, he played the title role in The Little Prince, directed by Dražen Ferenčina, during the 2013/2014 season, as well as a role in Dica, an original project by Dario Harjaček, in 2016.In 2019, he enrolled in the Academy of Dramatic Art, majoring in acting, and earned his bachelor's degree in 2022. He is currently completing his final year of graduate studies and actively participates in numerous theater productions, both in the independent scene (KD Smješko, Petit Teatar, &TD, Empiria Teatar) and in institutional theaters (Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, Žar Ptica).