Biography
Marina Matolić, the official accompanist of the VIMM course and competition, was born in Županja and received her musical education in Županja and Osijek with Damir Sekošan. She took her piano degree in 1995 at the Academy of Music in Zagreb in Jurica Muraj’s class, studied harpsichord for two years with Višnja Mažuran, and completed postgraduate piano studies from 1997 to 1999 as a Master of Musical Arts with Zvjezdana Bašić.
She has given solo recitals across Croatia, appeared at the “D. Lukić” memorial and in the “Mladi za mlade” (Youth for Youth) concert cycle, and performed at international festivals. Her distinctions include second prize at an international piano competition in Rome (1996) and, together with clarinettist Bruno Philipp, second prize at the “Radio Podij” competition (2000). She has attended EPTA seminars in Dubrovnik and partnered many leading Croatian wind players and singers — collaborators include Milan Turković, Dunja Vejzović, Guy Deplus, David Seidel, Sharon Kam, Davor Reba, Milko Pravdić and Žarko Perišić.
At the Academy of Music in Zagreb since 1997, she currently serves as artistic advisor and taught accompaniment to piano students for fifteen years. She co-founded the duo Pfagottiano with bassoonist Žarko Perišić, the trio Jongen, the Kušan–Župić–Matolić trio and a chamber trio with Davor Reba and tenor Ladislav Vrgoč. She directs the children’s choirs Bajka and Čarobni zvuci, is artistic director and conductor of the choir of nurses and medical technicians of KBC Zagreb, an official collaborator of the international summer school in Pučišća, and accompanist at the “Papandopulo” wind competition.
As an artistic collaborator she has won two silver plaques and a gold plaque (2016) at the Croatian Music Youth choir competition. Her recording work includes the children’s-song album “Abeceda” (2011), alongside songs, arrangements and musicals she writes and produces for children’s choirs.