Luka Buljan – truba / trumpet
Luka Buljan prvi je trubač Hrvatskog narodnog kazališta u Zagrebu. Osnovno glazbeno obrazovanje stekao je u Čakovcu, a srednje nastavio u Varaždinu. Tijekom školovanja sudjelovao je na brojnim domaćim i međunarodnim natjecanjima te osvojio niz prvih nagrada. Među značajnijim uspjesima ističu se tri uzastopne prve nagrade i Grand Prix na Međunarodnom natjecanju puhača Woodwind & Brass u Varaždinu (2015.–2017.), kao i prva nagrada na 6. Hrvatskom natjecanju mladih glazbenih umjetnika Papandopulo u Zagrebu (2017.), gdje je osvojio i nagradu za najbolju izvedbu djela hrvatskog skladatelja.
Kao pobjednik natjecanja Papandopulo nastupio je u Koncertnoj dvorani Vatroslava Lisinskog uz Simfonijski orkestar HRT-a pod ravnanjem Uroša Lajovica te snimao za fonoteku HRT-a. Dobitnik je Dekanove i Rektorove nagrade te Yamaha stipendije. Održao je i samostalni recital te sudjelovao u projektu „Majstori svirači“.
Od 2020. godine zaposlen je kao prva truba u orkestru HNK u Zagrebu. Tijekom obrazovanja i profesionalne karijere surađivao je s orkestrom Opere HNK-a, Simfonijskim i Jazz orkestrom HRT-a te Zagrebačkom filharmonijom. Član je Ad Gloriam Brass ansambla, a usavršavao se kod uglednih profesora trube u zemlji i inozemstvu.
Luka Buljan is principal trumpet of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb. He received his early musical education in Čakovec and continued his secondary studies in Varaždin. During his studies he participated in numerous national and international competitions, winning several first prizes. Among his most notable achievements are three consecutive first prizes and the Grand Prix at the International Woodwind & Brass Competition in Varaždin (2015–2017), as well as first prize at the 6th Croatian Young Musicians Competition Papandopulo in Zagreb (2017), where he also received the award for the best performance of a work by a Croatian composer.
As the winner of the Papandopulo competition he performed at the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall with the Croatian Radiotelevision Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Uroš Lajovic and recorded for the HRT archive. He is the recipient of the Dean’s and Rector’s Awards and a Yamaha scholarship. He has also given a solo recital and participated in the project “Masters Performers”.
Since 2020 he has served as principal trumpet in the orchestra of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb. Throughout his education and professional career he has collaborated with the HNK Opera Orchestra, the Croatian Radiotelevision Symphony and Jazz Orchestras, and the Zagreb Philharmonic. He is a member of the Ad Gloriam Brass ensemble and has studied with renowned trumpet professors in Croatia and abroad.
Davor Dropuljić – dirigent / conductor
Davor Dropuljić rođen je 1971. godine u Zagrebu. Diplomirao je trubu na Muzičkoj akademiji Sveučilišta u Zagrebu 1999. godine u klasi prof. J. Kubičeka. Tijekom školovanja sudjelovao je na trima republičkim natjecanjima i osvojio tri druge nagrade.
Početkom Domovinskog rata pridružio se Orkestru Hrvatske vojske, gdje je djelovao kao trubač. Kao orkestralni glazbenik surađivao je s brojnim uglednim dirigentima i umjetnicima.
Od 2014. godine zapovjednik je Orkestra Hrvatske vojske – Simfonijskog puhačkog orkestra. Godine 2013. pokrenuo je Big Band Hrvatske vojske, u kojem djeluje kao dirigent i umjetnički voditelj. S ansamblom je surađivao s mnogim poznatim imenima hrvatske glazbene scene te sudjelovao u brojnim projektima i festivalima.
Davor Dropuljić was born in Zagreb in 1971. He graduated in trumpet from the Academy of Music at the University of Zagreb in 1999 in the class of Professor J. Kubiček. During his studies he participated in three national competitions, winning second prize each time.
At the beginning of the Croatian War of Independence he joined the Croatian Armed Forces Orchestra as a trumpet player. As an orchestral musician he has collaborated with numerous distinguished conductors and artists.
Since 2014 he has served as commander of the Croatian Armed Forces Orchestra – Symphonic Wind Orchestra. In 2013 he founded the Croatian Armed Forces Big Band, where he continues to work as conductor and artistic director. With the ensemble he has collaborated with many well-known Croatian musicians and participated in numerous concerts and festivals.
Mario Lončar – truba / trumpet
Mario Lončar (Koprivnica, 1989.) jedan je od vodećih hrvatskih trubača. Od 2016. godine solo je trubač Zagrebačke filharmonije, a od 2023. docent na Odsjeku za trubu Muzičke akademije u Zagrebu.
Kao solist i komorni glazbenik ostvario je brojne nastupe i projekte, uključujući snimanje CD-a Opera Brass (2021.) te koncerte u Europi i inozemstvu. Diplomirao je 2013. na Muzičkoj akademiji u Zagrebu u klasi izv. prof. Marina Zokića.
Dobitnik je brojnih nagrada na domaćim i međunarodnim natjecanjima, a redovito nastupa na festivalima poput Splitskog ljeta, Osorskih glazbenih večeri i Čakovec Chamber Music Festivala. Kao pedagog održava seminare i radionice te je bio član žirija slovenskog državnog natjecanja TEMSIG.
Mario Lončar (Koprivnica, 1989) is one of the leading Croatian trumpeters. Since 2016 he has served as principal trumpet of the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, and since 2023 he has been Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the Academy of Music in Zagreb.
As a soloist and chamber musician he has appeared in numerous concerts and projects, including the recording of the CD Opera Brass (2021) and performances across Europe and internationally. He graduated in 2013 from the Academy of Music in Zagreb in the class of Associate Professor Marin Zokić.
He has received numerous awards at national and international competitions and regularly performs at festivals such as the Split Summer Festival, Osor Musical Evenings and the Čakovec Chamber Music Festival. As a pedagogue he leads masterclasses and seminars and has served as a jury member at the Slovenian national competition TEMSIG.
Petar Obradović – truba / trumpet
Petar Obradović (Dubrovnik, 1972.) istaknuti je hrvatski trubač i skladatelj. Diplomirao je trubu na Glazbenoj akademiji u Ljubljani u klasi Antona Grčara.
Od 1995. godine solo je trubač Simfonijskog orkestra HRT-a. Kao solist nastupao je s brojnim orkestrima i ansamblima u Hrvatskoj i inozemstvu.
Autor je brojnih orkestralnih, komornih i scenskih djela, a njegove skladbe objavile su međunarodne izdavačke kuće. Dobitnik je nagrade Porin za skladbu Bird Concerto (2019.) te nagrade Orlando HRT-a (2020.) za glazbeno ostvarenje na Dubrovačkim ljetnim igrama.
Petar Obradović (Dubrovnik, 1972) is a distinguished Croatian trumpeter and composer. He graduated in trumpet from the Academy of Music in Ljubljana in the class of Anton Grčar.
Since 1995 he has been principal trumpet of the Croatian Radiotelevision Symphony Orchestra. As a soloist he has performed with numerous orchestras and ensembles in Croatia and abroad.
He is the author of numerous orchestral, chamber and stage works, published by international music publishers. He received the Porin Award for his composition Bird Concerto (2019) and the HRT Orlando Award (2020) for musical achievement at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival.
Neeme Ots – truba / trumpet
Neeme Ots estonski je trubač, pedagog i umjetnički voditelj festivala. Trubu je počeo učiti sa šest godina kod svog oca Aava Otsa u Tallinnu. Studij je nastavio na Sibelius Akademiji u Helsinkiju, gdje je završio preddiplomski i diplomski studij, a kroz Erasmus program usavršavao se i na Kraljevskom konzervatoriju u Madridu. Pohađao je majstorske tečajeve kod istaknutih trubača poput Mauricea Andréa, Reinholda Friedricha i Gabrielea Cassonea.
Predaje trubu u nekoliko glazbenih škola u Tallinnu te redovito održava seminare u Estoniji i inozemstvu (Latvija, Litva, Italija, Hrvatska). Nastupa kao solist i komorni glazbenik u suradnji s orkestrima poput Kremerate Baltica, Poljske komorne filharmonije i Estonske nacionalne opere.
Ostvario je brojne nastupe s orguljašicom Tiom Tennom i harmonikašem Hennom Rebanom, s kojima je snimio albume Baroque Pictures (2015.) i Kiirteel (2023.). Umjetnički je voditelj festivala Trumpet Talents Tallinn, International Trumpet Days i Võru Brass Days te surađuje s brojnim orkestrima i dirigentima. Umjetnik je Pille Lill Music Trusta.
Neeme Ots is an Estonian trumpeter, pedagogue and festival artistic director. He began studying trumpet at the age of six with his father Aavo Ots in Tallinn. He continued his studies at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where he completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and later studied at the Royal Conservatory in Madrid through the Erasmus programme. He has attended masterclasses with renowned trumpeters including Maurice André, Reinhold Friedrich and Gabriele Cassone.
He teaches trumpet at several music schools in Tallinn and regularly gives masterclasses in Estonia and abroad (Latvia, Lithuania, Italy and Croatia). As a soloist and chamber musician he performs with ensembles such as Kremerata Baltica, the Polish Chamber Philharmonic and the Estonian National Opera Orchestra.
He frequently collaborates with organist Tia Tenno and accordionist Henn Rebane, with whom he recorded the albums Baroque Pictures (2015) and Kiirteel (2023). He is the artistic director of the festivals Trumpet Talents Tallinn, International Trumpet Days and Võru Brass Days and collaborates with numerous orchestras and conductors. He is an artist of the Pille Lill Music Trust.
Dario Teskera – truba / trumpet
Dario Teskera profesor je trube na Muzičkoj akademiji u Zagrebu (od 1999.) i na Akademiji za glasbo u Ljubljani (od 2018.). Diplomirao je trubu na Muzičkoj akademiji Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, a nakon studija usavršavao se dvije godine na prestižnoj Trompetenakademie Werder u Bremenu u Njemačkoj.
Uz solističke nastupe i djelovanje u komornim ansamblima, više od dvadeset godina bio je solo trubač Simfonijskog orkestra Hrvatske radiotelevizije. Kao pedagog i izvođač značajno doprinosi razvoju hrvatske i regionalne trubačke scene.
Dario Teskera is Professor of Trumpet at the Academy of Music in Zagreb (since 1999) and at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana (since 2018). He graduated in trumpet from the Academy of Music at the University of Zagreb and later spent two years studying at the prestigious Trompetenakademie Werder in Bremen, Germany.
In addition to his solo performances and chamber music activities, he spent more than twenty years as principal trumpet of the Croatian Radiotelevision Symphony Orchestra. As a performer and pedagogue he has made a significant contribution to the development of the trumpet scene in Croatia and the wider region.
Toomas Vana – trombon / trombone
Toomas Vana estonski je trombonist, orkestralni glazbenik i pedagog. Trenutačno djeluje kao solo trombonist u orkestru Estonske nacionalne opere. Studirao je na Sibelius Akademiji u Helsinkiju u klasi profesora Teppa Alestala, a dodatno se usavršavao na Kraljevskoj danskoj glazbenoj akademiji u okviru programa Nordplus.
Nastupao je s vodećim orkestrima sjeverne Europe, uključujući Estonski nacionalni simfonijski orkestar, Helsinšku filharmoniju, Simfonijski orkestar Finskog radija, Orkestar Finske nacionalne opere, Tapiola Sinfoniettu i Turku filharmonijski orkestar.
Uz orkestralnu karijeru djeluje i kao solist te komorni glazbenik na koncertima i festivalima u Estoniji i inozemstvu. Aktivno se bavi pedagogijom na Glazbeno-baletnoj školi u Tallinnu (MUBA) i u Glazbenoj školi Heino Eller u Tartuu.
Toomas Vana is an Estonian trombonist, orchestral musician and pedagogue. He currently serves as principal trombone of the Estonian National Opera Orchestra. He studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki in the class of Professor Teppo Alestalo and furthered his studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Music through the Nordplus programme.
He has performed with leading orchestras of Northern Europe, including the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Finnish National Opera Orchestra, Tapiola Sinfonietta and the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra.
Alongside his orchestral career he performs as a soloist and chamber musician at concerts and festivals in Estonia and abroad. He is also active as a pedagogue at the Tallinn Music and Ballet School (MUBA) and the Heino Eller Music School in Tartu.
ANSAMBLI / ENSEMBLES
Puhački orkestar DVD-a Velika Gorica / DVD Velika Gorica Wind Orchestra
Dobrovoljno vatrogasno društvo Velika Gorica osnovano je 1876. godine, a limena glazba djeluje u sklopu društva od 1930. godine. Orkestar sudjeluje u brojnim kulturnim i društvenim manifestacijama u Velikoj Gorici i Turopolju te na susretima vatrogasnih puhačkih orkestara diljem Hrvatske.
Od 2007. godine orkestar surađuje s Umjetničkom školom Franje Lučića iz Velike Gorice, čime je omogućeno uključivanje mladih glazbenika u rad ansambla. Danas orkestar broji tridesetak članova, među kojima su uglavnom djeca i mladi.
Orkestrom ravna dirigent Miro Taradi, pod čijim je vodstvom ansambl proširio repertoar djelima domaćih i stranih skladatelja različitih stilova. Orkestar redovito održava božićno-novogodišnje koncerte te nastupa na brojnim kulturnim događanjima.
The Volunteer Fire Brigade Velika Gorica was founded in 1876, and its brass band was established in 1930. The orchestra regularly participates in cultural and community events in Velika Gorica and the Turopolje region, as well as in gatherings of firefighters’ wind orchestras throughout Croatia.
Since 2007 the ensemble has collaborated with the Franjo Lučić School of Arts in Velika Gorica, enabling young musicians to join the orchestra and revitalise its membership. Today the ensemble has around thirty members, most of whom are children and young people.
The orchestra is conducted by Miro Taradi, under whose leadership the ensemble has expanded its repertoire with works by Croatian and international composers. The orchestra regularly performs at concerts and cultural events, including its annual Christmas and New Year concert.
Mariachi Los Caballeros
Ansambl Los Caballeros djeluje od 1998. godine i jedan je od najpoznatijih izvođača mariachi glazbe u Hrvatskoj te jedan od najuglednijih ambasadora ovog žanra izvan španjolskog govornog područja. Tijekom svoje karijere nastupali su s uglednim umjetnicima poput Ramóna Vargasa i Plácida Dominga te s ansamblima Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán i Mariachi de América.
Nastupali su u prestižnim koncertnim dvoranama i kazalištima u Hrvatskoj i inozemstvu, uključujući i pozornicu kazališta Teatro Degollado u Guadalajari. Sudjelovali su i u poznatom dokumentarnom filmu Mariachi – The Spirit of Mexico (PBS, 2003).
Founded in 1998, Los Caballeros is one of the best-known mariachi ensembles in Croatia and one of the most respected ambassadors of the genre outside the Spanish-speaking world. Throughout their career they have performed with distinguished artists such as Ramón Vargas and Plácido Domingo, as well as with the famous ensembles Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán and Mariachi de América.
They have appeared in prestigious concert halls and theatres in Croatia and abroad, including the Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara. The ensemble was also featured in the documentary Mariachi – The Spirit of Mexico (PBS, 2003).
Spanish Brass
Spanish Brass jedan je od najuglednijih limenih puhačkih kvinteta na međunarodnoj glazbenoj sceni, s više od tri desetljeća umjetničkog djelovanja. Svjetsko priznanje stekli su 1996. godine osvojivši prvu nagradu na Međunarodnom natjecanju puhačkih kvinteta Ville de Narbonne.
Ansambl je dobitnik brojnih nagrada, uključujući Nacionalnu glazbenu nagradu španjolskog Ministarstva kulture (2020.) te više nagrada Carles Santos za svoje albume. S bogatom diskografijom od više od trideset CD-a, Spanish Brass poznat je po inovativnom pristupu repertoaru za limene puhače.
Uz koncertnu djelatnost, ansambl organizira međunarodne festivale i kongrese posvećene limenim puhačima te redovito surađuje s vodećim svjetskim solistima i pedagozima.
Spanish Brass is one of the most renowned brass quintets on the international music scene, with more than three decades of artistic activity. The ensemble gained worldwide recognition in 1996 after winning first prize at the International Brass Quintet Competition Ville de Narbonne.
They have received numerous awards, including the Spanish National Music Prize awarded by the Ministry of Culture in 2020, as well as several Carles Santos Awards for their recordings. With a discography of more than thirty albums, Spanish Brass is known for its innovative approach to the brass repertoire.
In addition to their concert activities, the ensemble organises international brass festivals and congresses and regularly collaborates with leading soloists and educators from around the world.
Christopher Newport University Wind Ensemble (CNU Wind Ensemble)
Ansambl puhača Sveučilišta Christopher Newport (CNU Wind Ensemble) okuplja najuspješnije sveučilišne izvođače na puhačkim i udaraljkaškim instrumentima, većinom studente glazbe. Sa sjedištem u Ferguson Centru za umjetnost, ansambl održava nekoliko koncerata godišnje, sudjeluje u međunarodnim turnejama te posebnim događanjima i ceremonijama.
Ansambl surađuje s gostujućim skladateljima, dirigentima i solistima, kontinuirano podižući izvođačke standarde zahtjevnim repertoarom i uranjajući studente u različite glazbene kulture i izvedbene prakse iz cijelog svijeta.
The Christopher Newport University Wind Ensemble (CNU Wind Ensemble) gathers the most accomplished university performers on wind and percussion instruments, most of whom are music students. Based in the Ferguson Center for the Arts, the ensemble presents several concerts annually, participates in international tours, and performs at special events and ceremonies.
The ensemble collaborates with guest composers, conductors, and soloists, continuously raising performance standards through challenging repertoire and immersing students in diverse musical cultures and performance practices from around the world.
SURADNICI FESTIVALA / ASSOCIATES OF THE FESTIVAL
Alen Kopunović Legetin, orgulje / organ
Alen Kopunović Legetin (1974.) hrvatski je orguljaš, zborovođa i skladatelj. Diplomirao je orgulje na Muzičkoj akademiji Sveučilišta u Zagrebu u klasi prof. Ljerke Očić, a usavršavao se na Universität Mozarteum u Salzburgu te na Papinskom institutu za crkvenu glazbu u Rimu.
Djelovao je kao pontifikalni orguljaš i zborovođa Požeške biskupije te dugogodišnji umjetnički voditelj festivala Požeške orguljaške večeri. Redovito nastupa kao solist i surađuje s brojnim orkestrima, među kojima su Simfonijski orkestar HRT-a, Varaždinski komorni orkestar, Zadarski komorni orkestar i Dubrovački simfonijski orkestar.
Gostovao je na brojnim festivalima u Hrvatskoj i inozemstvu te koncertirao u katedralama i bazilikama diljem Europe, uključujući Rim, Beč, Budimpeštu, München i Brașov. Autor je brojnih djela liturgijske i duhovne glazbe, a suvremeni hrvatski skladatelji često mu posvećuju nova orguljska djela koja praizvodi.
Dobitnik je Antušove nagrade za promicanje kulture bačkih Hrvata te Godišnje nagrade Grada Požege za doprinos glazbenoj kulturi. Objavio je nekoliko diskografskih izdanja, među kojima su Portret kraljice, Hrvatski glazbeni barok i Cantantibus Organis.
Alen Kopunović Legetin (1974) is a Croatian organist, conductor and composer. He graduated in organ performance from the Academy of Music of the University of Zagreb in the class of Prof. Ljerka Očić, and continued his studies at the Universität Mozarteum in Salzburg and at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome.
He served for many years as the pontifical organist and choirmaster of the Diocese of Požega and artistic director of the Požega Organ Evenings festival. He frequently performs as a soloist and collaborates with orchestras such as the Croatian Radiotelevision Symphony Orchestra, Varaždin Chamber Orchestra, Zadar Chamber Orchestra and Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra.
He has appeared at numerous festivals in Croatia and abroad and performed in cathedrals and basilicas throughout Europe, including Rome, Vienna, Budapest, Munich and Brașov. His compositional output includes liturgical and sacred music, and several contemporary Croatian composers have dedicated organ works to him which he has premiered.
He is the recipient of the Antuš Award for the promotion of the culture of the Bačka Croats and the Annual Award of the City of Požega for contributions to musical culture. His discography includes the albums Portret kraljice, Hrvatski glazbeni barok and Cantantibus Organis.
Piret Randal – klavir / piano
Piret Randal završila je Glazbenu srednju školu u Tallinnu u klasi Ülle Sise i profesora Bruna Lukka. Diplomski i magistarski studij završila je na Estonskoj akademiji za glazbu i kazalište, studirajući klavir kod profesora Bruna Lukka i Alexandre Josepenaite Eesmaa.
Laureatkinja je brojnih nacionalnih i međunarodnih natjecanja mladih glazbenika. Nastupala je kao solistica i komorna glazbenica u više zemalja, uključujući Finsku, Hrvatsku, SAD, Englesku, Češku, Francusku, Italiju te baltičke zemlje. Trenutno radi u Glazbenoj školi u Tallinnu.
Piret Randal graduated from the Tallinn Music High School in the class of Ülle Sise and Professor Bruno Lukk. She completed both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, studying piano with Bruno Lukk and Alexandre Josepenaite Eesmaa.
She is a laureate of numerous national and international competitions for young musicians and has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in Finland, Croatia, the USA, England, Czech Republic, France, Italy, and across the Baltic states. She currently teaches at a music school in Tallinn.