Franko Božac
Encyclopedia
Franko Božac, born in Croatia
the 3rd, November 1974 is a classical accordion performer.
(London
), Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Cornerstone
– Hope at Everton, Cosmo Rodelwald Concert Hall, Duke’s Hall, Oxford Playhouse, Nothingam Playhause, City University London, Henry Wood Hall… Recently, he has performed The Rage of Jaques Brell with Antony Cable and Stuart Barr at The New End Theatre in London
. He has also performed at festivals such as the Cornerstone Festival
in Liverpool
, London Virtuoso Festival, International Music Forums, Bloomsbury Festival, Histria Festival, Zetra Festival, amongst many others.
He has had the pleasure to premiere numerous concertos for the button accordion
. The most recent one being The Hall of Horcum (Concerto for accordion and orchestra, which was written and dedicated to him) composed by British composer James Williamson
. The premiere was held at the Duke’s Hall of The Royal Academy of Music in London, and he was accompanied by the Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra, conducted by renowned conductor Patrick Bailey
. Another important accordion premiere was the performance of the Introduction, Choral and Final for accordion and orchestra, (which is also dedicated to him), composed by the Russian composer Alexander A. Attarov. Other premieres include: Paraphrase for accordion and strings orchestra composed by Branko Okmaca, Aproksimato no. 2 and Zujalica composed by Bashkim Shehu
(scored for bayan and symphony orchestra) among many others. With 10/10 Ensemble (Chamber Orchestra – part of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra), he recorded for BBC Radio
3 the works of contemporary British composer Gary Carpenter
. Besides this, he has recorded a mega-project for Scotland BBC. This was St Kilda Opera Hiort, which was conducted in five countries simultaneously (that is in Britain, France, Belgium, Austria and Germany). The work is scored for five instruments, three choirs and soloists.
Franko has also collaborated with international known orchestras such as The London Sinfonietta (under the direction of renowned composer and conductor, George Benjamin
), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
, University of Manchester Symphony Orchestra, Croatian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, University “Juraj Dobrila” Symphonic Orchestra and Royal College of Music
Symphony Orchestra.
Franko graduated from the University of Pula
, Croatia and was the first accordion graduate at the time in his native land (Croatia). He later graduated with a Masters degree from Ino Mirkovich Music Academy under licence of Moscow State Conservatory P.I. Tchaikovsky in Lovran, under the tuition of Prof. Volodimir Balyk, followed by a postgraduate diploma from the Royal Academy of Music- London, in the class of Prof Owen Murray
. He is currently an accordion professor at the University of Pula
. His students have until now won over 80 prizes in national and international competitions, including: The Trophée Mondial de l’Accordéon, Coupe Mondiale, State and country competitions.
He is a member of the Croatian society of musical artists, the Croatian Music Union and The Croatian Accordion Society. He is constantly frequented to conduct masterclasses and seminars all around Croatia and the neighbouring countries. In 2009, the Education Ministry of Croatia awarded Franko a medal for outstanding musical achievements.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
the 3rd, November 1974 is a classical accordion performer.
Biography
Franko Božac’s playing has been appreciated all over the world. He has performed in numerous theatres around the world, among which one can mention: Queen Elizabeth HallQueen Elizabeth Hall
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is a music venue on the South Bank in London, United Kingdom that hosts daily classical, jazz, and avant-garde music and dance performances. The QEH forms part of Southbank Centre arts complex and stands alongside the Royal Festival Hall, which was built for the Festival...
(London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
), Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Cornerstone
Cornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
– Hope at Everton, Cosmo Rodelwald Concert Hall, Duke’s Hall, Oxford Playhouse, Nothingam Playhause, City University London, Henry Wood Hall… Recently, he has performed The Rage of Jaques Brell with Antony Cable and Stuart Barr at The New End Theatre in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He has also performed at festivals such as the Cornerstone Festival
Cornerstone Festival
Cornerstone Festival is a Christian music festival put on by Jesus People USA and held annually around the 4th of July near Bushnell, Illinois. In a given year, many artists that play at Cornerstone also play at other events such as Creation Festival and mainstream festivals and tours such as the...
in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, London Virtuoso Festival, International Music Forums, Bloomsbury Festival, Histria Festival, Zetra Festival, amongst many others.
He has had the pleasure to premiere numerous concertos for the button accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
. The most recent one being The Hall of Horcum (Concerto for accordion and orchestra, which was written and dedicated to him) composed by British composer James Williamson
James Williamson
James Robert Williamson is an American guitarist, songwriter, record producer and electronics engineer who is best known for his contribution to the protopunk rock band Iggy & The Stooges.-Early years:...
. The premiere was held at the Duke’s Hall of The Royal Academy of Music in London, and he was accompanied by the Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra, conducted by renowned conductor Patrick Bailey
Patrick Bailey
Patrick Bailey is an American football linebacker who is currently with the Tennessee Titans. He was signed by the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
. Another important accordion premiere was the performance of the Introduction, Choral and Final for accordion and orchestra, (which is also dedicated to him), composed by the Russian composer Alexander A. Attarov. Other premieres include: Paraphrase for accordion and strings orchestra composed by Branko Okmaca, Aproksimato no. 2 and Zujalica composed by Bashkim Shehu
Bashkim Shehu
-Family background:He is the son of Mehmet Shehu, former Prime Minister of Socialist People's Republic of Albania. Hoxha's communist regime interned the family, following the accusation that Mehmet Shehu had served as a Yugoslavian agent.-References:*...
(scored for bayan and symphony orchestra) among many others. With 10/10 Ensemble (Chamber Orchestra – part of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra), he recorded for BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
3 the works of contemporary British composer Gary Carpenter
Gary Carpenter
Gary Carpenter is an animation director, comedy writer and creator of King Nutter - The site which monitors eBay items in the news.His animated series Celebrity High for Channel 4 / E4 / Talkback earned him finalist as Director of Best Comedy Series at the 2002 British Animation Awards.His most...
. Besides this, he has recorded a mega-project for Scotland BBC. This was St Kilda Opera Hiort, which was conducted in five countries simultaneously (that is in Britain, France, Belgium, Austria and Germany). The work is scored for five instruments, three choirs and soloists.
Franko has also collaborated with international known orchestras such as The London Sinfonietta (under the direction of renowned composer and conductor, George Benjamin
George Benjamin
George Benjamin may refer to:* George Benjamin , Canadian political figure* George Benjamin , English composer...
), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society is a society based in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, that organises concerts and other events mainly in the field of classical music. The society is the second oldest of its type in the United Kingdom and its orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic...
, University of Manchester Symphony Orchestra, Croatian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, University “Juraj Dobrila” Symphonic Orchestra and Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
Symphony Orchestra.
Franko graduated from the University of Pula
University of Pula
The Juraj Dobrila University of Pula is a university located in Pula, Croatia. It was founded in 2006 and is organized in 5 Departments.-History:...
, Croatia and was the first accordion graduate at the time in his native land (Croatia). He later graduated with a Masters degree from Ino Mirkovich Music Academy under licence of Moscow State Conservatory P.I. Tchaikovsky in Lovran, under the tuition of Prof. Volodimir Balyk, followed by a postgraduate diploma from the Royal Academy of Music- London, in the class of Prof Owen Murray
Owen Murray
Owen Murray GRAM, Dip RAM Hon RAM, is British accordionist and professor.- Biography :Born in the UK, he studied with Mogens Ellegaard at The Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, graduating with the Diploma in 1982. He played many recitals, both in the UK and overseas. His recordings...
. He is currently an accordion professor at the University of Pula
University of Pula
The Juraj Dobrila University of Pula is a university located in Pula, Croatia. It was founded in 2006 and is organized in 5 Departments.-History:...
. His students have until now won over 80 prizes in national and international competitions, including: The Trophée Mondial de l’Accordéon, Coupe Mondiale, State and country competitions.
He is a member of the Croatian society of musical artists, the Croatian Music Union and The Croatian Accordion Society. He is constantly frequented to conduct masterclasses and seminars all around Croatia and the neighbouring countries. In 2009, the Education Ministry of Croatia awarded Franko a medal for outstanding musical achievements.