Nenad Merle

Prof. Adviser NENAD MERLE (Zagreb, 1956) graduated at the Music Academy in Zagreb under prof. Martin Barić. He was a violin and chamber music teacher for many years at Pavao Markovac Music school in Zagreb and was head of strings department. From 1988 to 1991 he served as headmaster.

He has educated numerous young violinists. His pupils achieve outstanding performances at concerts and competitions (they have won 169 prizes, among which 88 first prizes, eight times with a maximum of 100 points, two times Grand Prix, special prize of EMCY, etc.), and they record for radio and television. At their performances, students win high marks from the profession, critics and the audience. In his class, 44 students graduated in violin.

He is a member of many judging panels at international, national and regional competitions. He participates in the development of curricula. He is a mentor to students of the Academy of Music (methodology subject) and young teachers for professional exams.

He is a member of the Croatian Association of Orchestral and Chamber Artists. For a number of years he has worked in many orchestras (Gaudeamus Chamber Orchestra, HRT Symphony Orchestra, Croatian Chamber Orchestra,Zagreb Philharmonic, Varaždin Chamber Orchestra).

He is the winner of the Croatian Association of Music and Dance Educators Annual Award for 2002. and in the same year, the Croatian Education and Teacher Training Agency appointed him head of the inter-county expert council for violin and viola, where he has been active for more than 20 years.

The Ministry of Science and Education and the Education and Teacher Training Agency has awarded him the award “for excellent work with students” eight times.

In 2006, he was promoted to the title of prof. mentor, and in 2008 to the title of prof. Adviser.

In 2023 the city of Zagreb awarded him the award for excellence Professor Balthazar. In the same year Croatian String Teachers Association awarded him the plaque of honorary membership for his year-long contribution and development of string pedagogy in Croatia.