1st International Music Masterclass in the Historic Palaces and Castles of Slavonia
Baroque – Interpretation – Contemporary Approaches
27 August – 1 September 2026
Slavonia, Croatia
Sonata Slavonica is an international music masterclass held for the first time in Slavonia, with the goal of establishing a long-term platform for artistic excellence, education, and international collaboration in the field of classical music.
The project brings together leading Croatian and international artists, young musicians, and audiences within the authentic cultural and historical surroundings of eastern Croatia.
Thematic Focus – 2026
The first international Sonata Slavonica masterclass is thematically dedicated to the Baroque period, with a special emphasis on:
- historically informed performance,
- contemporary approaches to the Baroque repertoire,
- creative transcriptions, and
- interdisciplinary perspectives on musical interpretation and performance.
Programme and Format
The programme lasts six days and includes:
- individual lessons with mentors
- chamber music work
- public masterclasses
- lectures and thematic seminars
In addition to active participation, passive attendance is also possible, allowing participants to follow the teaching of a selected professor, instrument, or vocal class.
A special part of the programme is a two-day neuroscience seminar and the lecture:
“The Organ as a Meta-Instrument: Transcription as a Creative Transformation of Repertoire.”
For students of music schools, an interactive workshop will also be organised:
Do organ / OrgelKids – an educational and hands-on organ experience.
Concert Programme – Dates and Venues
- 27 Aug 2026 – Bojan Čičić (Baroque violin) & Tomaž Sevšek Šramel (harpsichord)
Prandau–Mailáth Castle, Donji Miholjac - 28 Aug 2026 – Łukasz Kuropaczewski (guitar)
Prandau–Normann Castle, Valpovo - 29 Aug 2026 – Stjepan Nodilo (Baroque oboe) & Franjo Bilić (harpsichord)
Gutmann Palace, Belišće - 30 Aug 2026 – Tomaž Sevšek Šramel (organ)
Co-Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul, Osijek - 31 Aug 2026 – Edin Karamazov (lute) & Terezija Cukrov (fortepiano)
Pejačević Castle, Našice - 1 Sept 2026 – Final concert of participants and mentors
Gutmann Palace, Belišće
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 in music seminar (Harvard, USA)
Participation options:
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 in music seminar and lunch.
e) €200 for 2 days
Includes: two-day neuroscience in music 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.
BIOGRAPHIES OF MENTORS AND LECTURERS
Lovro Pogorelić – Piano
Lovro Pogorelić (b. 1970) is one of Croatia’s most distinguished pianists. He performs throughout Europe, America, and Asia and is renowned for his powerful interpretations and profound musical insight. He is a full professor of piano at the Zagreb Academy of Music and the founder and artistic director of the PagArtFestival.
Bojan Čičić – Baroque Violin
Bojan Čičić, a violinist of Croatian origin based in London, is among the leading interpreters of 17th- and 18th-century music. He serves as concertmaster of the Academy of Ancient Music and is a professor of Baroque violin at the Royal College of Music in London.
Tomaž Sevšek Šramel – Organ & Harpsichord
Tomaž Sevšek Šramel is a Slovenian organist and harpsichordist with an international career. He studied in Freiburg and at the Eastman School of Music and performs across Europe as a soloist and chamber musician, with a focus on Baroque and contemporary repertoire.
Łukasz Kuropaczewski – Guitar
Łukasz Kuropaczewski is one of the most prominent Polish guitarists of his generation. He has appeared at major international festivals and collaborated with leading orchestras and ensembles. He is a professor of guitar and a frequent guest masterclass teacher throughout Europe.
Stjepan Nodilo – Baroque Oboe
Stjepan Nodilo is a specialist in historical wind instruments. He studied in Vienna, Linz, and Graz and is the principal oboist of the Croatian Baroque Ensemble. He is active as a soloist, chamber musician, and educator.
Lidija Horvat Dunjko – Voice
Lidija Horvat Dunjko is a Croatian opera singer and vocal pedagogue. She performs both in Croatia and internationally, with a special interest in Baroque and Classical repertoire, and regularly participates in educational projects and masterclasses.
Mia Elezović – Chamber Music
Mia Elezović is a distinguished Croatian pianist and pedagogue with extensive experience in chamber music performance and teaching. Her work includes an active concert career as a soloist and chamber musician, collaborating with numerous ensembles and artists. She places special emphasis on interpretative sensitivity, ensemble communication, and stylistic diversity of repertoire. Through her leadership and membership in various chamber groups, she actively promotes contemporary musical thought while nurturing musical heritage.
Marija Pranjić – Neuroscience in Music Seminar
Dr. Marija Pranjić is a neuroscientist affiliated with Harvard University. Her research explores connections between music, the brain, and cognitive processes. At Sonata Slavonica, she leads a specialised two-day neuroscience seminar.
Tea Kulaš – Lecture and Workshop
Tea Kulaš is a concert organist, musicologist, and organiser of projects dedicated to the organ and contemporary performance practices. She focuses on interdisciplinary productions linking organ music with visual media and new technologies, expanding the instrument’s sonic and performative possibilities. She is also active in music education for children and youth. The theme of transcription as transfiguration lies at the core of her current research.
Special Lecture
Tea Kulaš – Organ / Theory and Practice of Transcription
Lecture: “The Organ as a Meta-Instrument: Transcription as a Creative Transformation of Repertoire”
This lecture explores the historical and contemporary role of the organ as a meta-instrument, with particular emphasis on transcription practices in the Baroque era and their relevance in today’s interpretative and creative contexts.
Transcription is examined as a process of artistic transformation, reinterpretation, and repertoire expansion. The lecture is intended not only for organists but also for a wider circle of musicians, students, and educators.