Ante KNEŠAUREK
Ante Knešaurek (Zagreb, 1978) graduated organ (M. Penzar) and composition (M. Ruždjak) from the Academy of Music in Zagreb. He continued to study organ at the Hochschule für Musik in Detmold (N. Düchtel) and Graz (G. Rost). He studied organ improvisation in Croatia under A. Klobučar, and has been subsequently studying organ with D. Roth, L. Lohmann, A. Rößler, and M. Gaillit, and similarly with the composition, by other renowned Croatian and foreign professors. Today, he’s one of the few Croatian organists actively devoted to organ improvisation, continuing the tradition of Croatian composers, organists, and improvisators, such as F. Dugan and A. Klobučar.
He has been the titular organist of the Church of the Holy Heart of Jesus in Zagreb since 1997, where he collaborates with the University Choir Palma, producing various recordings. Currently, he teaches composition at the Academy of Music of the University of Zagreb. He taught polyphony, organ, and improvisation at the Institute for Church Music Alba Vidaković of the Catholic Faculty of Theology in Zagreb (2003-2011).
He is present as a composer both at the national and international stages, and his compositions were performed at Zagreb Music Biennale and other similar exhibitions in Zagreb, Osor, Grožnjan, Osijek, Ljubljana, Pula, Vienna, Moscow, Berlin, St Petersburg, Freyung, Detmold, Trieste, and Udine. He is a regular member of the Croatian Composers Society, and his compositions are performed by renowned Croatian and foreign musicians, orchestras, and ensembles (Beijing Philharmonic Orchestra, Milanese Trio Debussy, Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Croatian Radiotelevision Symphony Orchestra, Papandopulo Quartet, etc.). Besides his rich solo career at the festivals throughout Europe, he regularly collaborates with many soloists and ensembles, and occasionally records for Croatian Radio and Television.