Sonata Slavonica are the first international summer music masterclasses in Slavonia (Croatia), taking place at the end of August and beginning of September in the historic castles of Slavonia (Valpovo, Našice, Donji Miholjac, Belišće) and in the co-cathedral in Osijek.
First edition: 27 August – 2 September 2026.
Organizer: Creative Cultural Network.
The program brings together high-level pedagogical work with renowned mentors, public concerts, open rehearsals, lectures, and workshops for the local community. The focus is on the development of young musicians, heritage revitalization, international cooperation, and cultural tourism.
The Masterclass is conceived as a multi-year cycle thematically dedicated to musical stylistic periods – Baroque, Classicism, Romanticism, and contemporary music – thereby achieving an educational, concert, and research character.
Participants take part in masterclasses, lectures, and individual work with mentors, while public concerts by professors and participants enable direct interaction between artists and audiences in the authentic historical setting of Slavonian castles.
Objectives
Artistic education: to enable young musicians to work with top professors, encourage their interpretative and artistic maturity, and provide them with intensive education at a high artistic level.
Heritage revitalization: to revitalize and activate Slavonian castles through artistic programs and position them as cultural centers. To foster cultural diversity by working across different musical styles and periods.
International cooperation: to create a recognizable cultural brand connecting the Croatian and international music scenes. To promote international collaboration and exchange of experience. To contribute to cultural decentralization and the international visibility of Slavonia.
Community involvement: to engage the local community through public concerts, workshops, and cultural-tourism content in the artistic process.
Cultural tourism: to strengthen the region’s cultural tourism, contribute to Slavonia’s identity, and create a long-term platform for collaboration among artists, institutions, and audiences.
Visibility and legacy: to publish a digital summary of materials (video excerpts, scripts) and issue certificates to participants; to sign at least two cooperation agreements for continuation in 2027.
Context and need
Slavonian castles and palaces represent exceptionally valuable but underutilized cultural infrastructure. The program brings them to life as classrooms, stages, and “sound galleries,” respecting conservation requirements.
Young musicians from the region and beyond lack intensive masterclass programs with internationally recognized pedagogues immediately before the academic year/concert season — the period 27 August–2 September ideally addresses this need.
The project is a strong tool for the decentralization of high-quality artistic content and audience development in Eastern Croatia.
Mentors and lecturers (2026)
- Lovro Pogorelić – piano (HR)
- Bojan Čičić – violin (UK)
- Tomaž Sevšek Šramel – organ and harpsichord (SLO)
- Łukasz Kuropaczewski – guitar (PL)
- Stjepan Nodilo – baroque oboe (HR)
- Mia Elezović – chamber music (HR)
- Lidija Horvat Dunjko – singing (HR)
- Marija Pranjić – neuroscience seminar (Harvard, USA)
APPLICATION
Inquiries and pre-registration: sonata.slavonica2026@gmail.com
A. Masterclass (participants)
Teaching formats:
Individual lessons, chamber music, thematic workshops, mental strategies for learning and performance, and open rehearsals of mentors and ensembles.
Levels of participation:
Active participants (A) and Passive participants (P) – access to all lectures and rehearsals.
Learning outcomes:
Improved interpretation and style, technique, chamber listening and communication, stage fright resilience, public performance skills, audition preparation.
Participation fees for the International Summer Masterclass Sonata Slavonica (packages):
a) €700 for 6 days
Includes: lessons and work with professor, accommodation with breakfast, lunch and dinner.
b) €580 for 6 days
Includes: lessons and work with professor, lunch and dinner (no accommodation or breakfast).
c) €460 for 6 days
Includes: lessons and work with professor (no accommodation or meals).
d) €250 for 2 days
Includes: two-day neuroscience seminar and lunch.
e) €200 for 2 days
Includes: two-day neuroscience seminar.
f) €100 for 6 days (passive participants)
Includes: passive attendance of one masterclass of choice for all 6 days.
g) €25 per day (passive participants)
Attendance of one masterclass – one day.
B. Public program (audience and community – free of charge)
Concerts (see schedule below)
Introductory talks (10–15 min) before concerts – listening guide, brief historical context.
Post-concert talks (“Meet the Artist”) – audience questions, didactic demonstrations.
Community/school workshops – instruments up close, “first tone,” music quiz, listening sessions.
Concert schedule (2026)
- 27 August – Donji Miholjac, Prandau-Mailath Castle
Bojan Čičić (baroque violin), Tomaž Sevšek Šramel (harpsichord) - 28 August – Valpovo, Prandau-Normann Castle
Łukasz Kuropaczewski (guitar) - 29 August – Belišće, Gutmann Palace
Stjepan Nodilo (baroque oboe), Franjo Bilić (harpsichord) - 30 August – Co-cathedral in Osijek
Tomaž Sevšek Šramel (organ) - 1 September – Našice, Pejačević Castle
Edin Karamazov (lute), Terezija Cukrov (fortepiano) - 2 September – Belišće, Gutmann Palace
Final concert of mentors and participants
Community engagement and educational component
Schools and music schools: guided visits, tailored workshops (“Instrument up close”), mini-residency mentoring lessons for selected students.
Beginner audience: listening guide (leaflet + QR), short introductions, conversations with performers.
Teachers: pedagogical “toolkit” (PDF) with suggested classroom activities for music culture and solfeggio.
Neuroscience and performance (Marija Pranjić): how the brain learns music, practicing without an instrument, focus, stage fright management.
Importance and impact on Eastern Croatia
Heritage revitalization: castles and palaces gain a new function — spaces for learning and high-level performances; their sustainable use is encouraged during low-season periods.
Economic and tourism multipliers: visitors use accommodation, catering, and transport services; micro-itineraries are created (sightseeing + concert + tasting).
Social cohesion: the program brings together different ages and profiles (pupils, students, citizens, guests) and fosters shared pride in local heritage and talent.
Audience development and tourism potential
Target audience: youth (15–29), families, cultural audiences, tourists, alumni, and “friends of the festival.”
Accessibility measures: venues accessible to people with reduced mobility, subtitled promotional videos, “quiet corner.”
Itineraries (3):
- “A Day in Valpovo” (museum + castle + concert + local sweets)
- “Pejačević Baroque” (Našice: sightseeing + fortepiano recital + park)
- “Gutmann Art & Sound” (Belišće: industrial heritage + palace + final concert)
Partnerships
Institutional:
Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, Osijek-Baranja County, City of Osijek, City of Valpovo, City of Belišće, City of Našice, City of Donji Miholjac and tourist boards (Osijek-Baranja County, Valpovo, Našice, Donji Miholjac, Belišće, Osijek), museums/castles, parishes (organs), AUKOS/UNIOS, music schools.
Private sector:
Nexe Group, hotels, family farms (OPG), local transport providers, technical companies (lighting/sound).
Media:
Local and regional portals and radio stations; student media; cultural magazines.
Sustainability
Annual cycle with the same period (end of August/beginning of September) – creating a habit of return and a recognizable brand.
Digital legacy: archive of clips, photo essay of castles, pedagogical scripts (OER) for schools.
Green practices: local procurement, shared transfers, “paper-lite” materials with QR guides, reusable scenography elements.
Sonata Slavonica brings together top-level artistic pedagogy, activation of historical spaces, and a shared musical experience in the heart of Slavonia. The project creates a lasting educational and cultural legacy, strengthens the region’s international visibility, and develops cultural tourism through high-quality, accessible, and pedagogically thoughtful content.