Lovro Merčep (1990, Zagreb, Croatia) graduated saxophone in 2014, at Academy of Music in Zagreb under Dragan Sremec. At the same time, he studied at Conservatoire a rayonnement Régional in Lyon with Jean-Denis Michat, and later at the Conservatoire a rayonnement Régional in Versailles with Vincent David. From the academic year 2014/2015, he has studied at the Amsterdam Conservatory with Arno Bornkamp, where he graduated in 2016.

During studies he was holder of scholaships from French government, Adris Foundation, and the town of Samobor. For his accomplishments during the studies in Zagreb he was awarded with The Rector´s prize and The Dean´s prize of the University of Zagreb. He is one of the winners of the Young Musician of the Year award given by Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra for artistic achievements in the year 2016.

Lovro is a laureate of numerous national and international competitions such as 7th International Saxophone Competition in Nova Gorica (Slovenia), Concours Européen de Saxophone in Gap (France), 5th Croatian Competition for Young Musicians Papandopulo in Zagreb (Croatia), Intenational competition Emona in Ljubljana (Slovenia), 1st international saxophone competition Josip Nochta in Zagreb (Croatia).

He has played at classical music festivals in Croatia and abroad, collaborating with renowned young Croatian musicians such as Krešimir Starčević, Aljoša Jurinić, Marin Maras, Srđan Bulat and Filip Merčep. As a soloist he played with Croatian Chamber Orchestra, Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Croatian Radio television Symphony Orchestra, Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra and Vocal ensemble Antiphonus under the baton of Tomislav Fačini, Uroš Lajovic, Berislav Šipuš, En Shao, Stefano Mazzoleni and others.

Lovro pays special attention to the promotion of music by Croatian composers. In 2016 her recorded Sinfonietta for alto saxophone, strings and percussions by Bruno Bjelinski with Croatian Radio television Symphony Orchestra under the baton of the composers son Alan Bjelinski. On the 66th Dubrovnik Summer Festival he gave a premier of Concerto for saxophone and string orchestra with Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra and the conductor Stefano Mazzoleni, written for him by a Croatian composer Ivan Končić. Composers Gordan Tudor, Sara Glojnarić and Ana Horvat also dedicated their pieces to him.

Works written by Croatian composers are also a part of the repertoire of Ardemus Quartet, who Lovro is a member of. The quartet played concerts in The Netherlands, Croatia, Belgium and Switzerland. They are winners of the the 13th International Competition for Young Musicians Ferdo Livadić in Samobor (Croatia) and audience prize on Grachtenfestival Conservatorium Concour in 2016.

As one of the four finalists of Dutch Classical Talent Tour & Award competition for the season 2018/2019, Ardemus Quartet will have the opportunity to play a tour throughout The Netherlands and will be promoted on the Dutch television and radio program.

Lovro currently lives in Amsterdam where he is studying chamber music in Netherlands String Quartet Academy program at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with Sven Arne Tepl and Marc Danel.

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