Skip to content Skip to footer

About school

HomeAbout school

Mission and vision

The music school “Iva Kuprešak” is built around the idea that teaching music and developing musical skills goes beyond the field of techniques and “science” of music and turns into an emotional and expressive effect.

We are committed to excellence in education and the arts. We provide an innovative, creative and dynamic environment that builds talent.

An adapted educational way of working, and an individual approach to each student, prepares them for success in their own world and inspiring their environment.

As leaders in contemporary music education, we provide a teaching methodology and approach relevant to today’s world.

We continuously improve our academic programs, introduce innovations and offer a wide range of services and activities.

What makes us different

Teaching approach

We approach education individually. Each student should have the opportunity to learn at their own pace. The individual approach inspires creativity, encourages a passion for music and engages students to participate more actively in the learning process.

Successful student community

Music education is more than just learning to play an instrument. Our approach to music education is based on well-being and self-care. We encourage personal growth, development of practical skills and self-confidence.

Interdisciplinary teaching

An interdisciplinary perspective is key to the development of artistic skills. Through interdisciplinary education, we enable the application of knowledge from various disciplines, and their contribution to a deeper understanding of music.

Meet us

Iva Kuprešak

Principal

“In the coming years, we will take every opportunity to further build a solid foundation of educational excellence and innovation. We will continue to create fertile ground for the artistic growth of our students, with an emphasis on expanding the range of creative and multidisciplinary skills. Our primary focus is the personal development of each student, so our unique approach and teaching methodology will be constantly reviewed and upgraded. It is a great honor to be part of this journey with a team of dedicated professionals and colleagues. ”

Professors

Jasna Šumak Picek

Head of Percussion Department

Marino Tomasović

Head of String Instruments Department

Arijana Gigliani Philipp

Head of the solo singing department

Dina Katnić

Piano collaborator accompanist

Larisa Goliak

Head of the Piano Department in the Novalja Regional Department

Vjekoslav Babić

Head of Theory and Conducting Department

Regular external collaborators

Sharon Mohar

Professor of opera ensemble and stage vocal interpretations

Liora Maurer

Vocal trainer and pianist

Lucy Arner

Pianist and conductor

Professors

Jasna Šumak Picek

Graduated from the Zagreb Academy of Music. She regularly holds solo concerts throughout Croatia and abroad. She has performed as a soloist with the Zagreb Soloists, the Sarajevo Philharmonic, the HNK Osijek Orchestra and many others. She made her debut in the opera Ivan pl. Zajc Nikola Šubić-Zrinski in the role of Jelena at the National Theater in Sarajevo, and with the same role she made guest appearances and excellent reviews in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She is the winner of the first prize and the winner of the entire international competition Lazar Jovanović in Belgrade.

Jasna Šumak Picek

Head of Percussion Department

Marino Tomasović

Professor of violin. He has been awarded at numerous competitions in the chamber music category and as a soloist. He studied at master classes of world-renowned musicians (Stefan Milenkovich, Grigory Zhislin, Enrico Onofri, Alexander Trostiansky, Dora Schwarzberg). He graduated from the Music Academy in Zagreb. He holds concerts throughout Europe (Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Ireland). As an artist, his goal is to explore new genres, techniques and styles of violin playing.

Marino Tomasović

Head of String Instruments Department

Arijana Gigliani Philipp

Graduated from the Zagreb Academy of Music. She regularly holds solo concerts throughout Croatia and abroad. She has performed as a soloist with the Zagreb Soloists, the Sarajevo Philharmonic, the HNK Osijek Orchestra and many others. She made her debut in the opera Ivan pl. Zajc Nikola Šubić-Zrinski in the role of Jelena at the National Theater in Sarajevo, and with the same role she made guest appearances and excellent reviews in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She is the winner of the first prize and the winner of the entire international competition Lazar Jovanović in Belgrade.

Arijana Gigliani Philipp

Head of the solo singing department

Dina Katnić

Dina Katnić was born in Zagreb. She finished the elementary music school of Ivan Zajc in the class of Lidija Vujović Pišpek. In 2004, she graduated in the class of Ivanka Brkanović, and enrolled in the Music Academy in the class of Đuro Tikvica. Already during his studies she is engaged in rehearsals and chamber music, participates in competitions and seminars in Croatia and abroad. She is currently working as an accompanist at the Vatroslav Lisinski School in Zagreb.

Dina Katnić

Piano collaborator accompanist

Larissa Goliak

Piano teacher. She graduated from the Kharkiv City University in Ukraine. She trained at numerous seminars in Ukraine and Russia. Her students have participated in numerous national and international competitions, and won first prizes. In 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR awarded her the title of Experienced Worker and a medal for her long-term work. She has been working in Novalja for 24 years with her husband Alexei, a pianist and a very successful professor.

Larissa Goliak

Head of the Piano Department in the Novalja Regional Department

Vjekoslav Babić

After graduating in Piano and Conducting at the Music Academy in Zagreb, in addition to working part-time as an accompanist at the Croatian National Theater, he also worked as a piano teacher at the School of Ballet and Rhythmics. He collaborates with numerous opera singers, conductors, professorial and amateur ensembles. He made his debut as a conductor conducting performances of the opera "In Love with Three Oranges" by S. Prokofiev. Since 2019, he has also been conducting W.A. Mozart's "Magic Flute". Regular external collaborators

Vjekoslav Babić

Head of Theory and Conducting Department

Regular external collaborators

Liora Maurer

With her diverse program, she performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. She recently appeared in a concert with tenor Robert Alagno and soprano Alexandra Kurzak in favor of the Conservatorio de Musica de San Juan in Puerto Rico. Highlights of her career include the transfer of Aida with Anna Netrebko and Anita Rachvelishvili, and a new production of La Traviata.

Liora Maurer

Vocal trainer and pianist

Lucy Arner

Cuba-born conductor Lucy Arner has a special affinity for Italian and French opera, which is reinforced by her many years of experience working in some of the world's largest opera houses such as the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona and the Metropolitan Opera. In the fall of 2015, she was appointed music director and chief conductor of the New Jersey Verismo Opera, becoming the first female music director of the opera house.

Lucy Arner

Pianist and conductor

Sharon Mohar

A director and acting teacher who was educated at the prestigious Cours Florent in Paris. She is the founder and artistic director of "Les Maîtres Sonneurs", an opera company based in Toulouse, France. Ms. Mohar’s productions Die Zauberflöte and Le Nozze di Figaro were chosen by the French Minister of Culture as part of the Ministry of Education’s Young Audience Program, and have been presented throughout France. She is extremely sought after as a stage director and interpretation trainer.

Sharon Mohar

Professor of opera ensemble and stage vocal interpretations