HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT
Moreno Vinceković
Moreno Vinceković was born in Varaždin on 21 April 1973. He attended two secondary schools: Varaždin Grammar School and the Varaždin School of Music, and completed both of them simultaneously as a straight-A students. At the Varaždin School of Music his major was guitar. He completed it in 1989 as the youngest student in his generation.
He continued his education in 1990 at the Academy of Music, Zagreb, under Professor Istvan Römer. He graduated with honours and as one of the youngest and most talented students of his generation. While still at school he won numerous prizes and recognitions, such as the first prize at the Croatian Music Students’ Competition and the first prize at the National Music Students’ Competition, which was held in Sarajevo in former Yugoslavia. He was also given the University of Zagreb Rector’s Award.
He has worked as a guitar teacher at the Varaždin School of Music since 1988. When he started teaching, he was the youngest ever teacher of the Varaždin School of Music. He established the Guitar Department and was its first teacher. Today he is a guitar and chamber music teacher, and Head of the Guitar and Tamburitza Department. In 2017 he was appointed teacher trainer by the Education and Teacher Training Agency. Since School Year 2018/2019 he has served as Head of the County Guitar Teachers’ Council, which encompasses over 10 counties.
His students have received numerous prestigious awards at regional, national and international level. They perform at Varaždin Baroque Music Evenings as soloists with the Varaždin Chamber Orchestra. Two of his students received the annual Rotary Award for excellence two years in a row: in 2015 and 2016. So far ten of his students have successfully passed entrance examination and started their further education at music academies in Croatia, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the UK.
He has been involved in the improvement of guitar education for many years now. In 1998 he and several other guitar teachers and performers established the Croatian Guitar Educators’ Association (HUGIP), which today has more than 300 members.
He chaired the Croatian Guitar Educators’ Association from 2002 to 2010.
He regularly attends teacher training seminars and so far he himself has also organised numerous professional workshops and concerts, both for guitar teachers as well as guitar students, led by some of the most renowned guitar players and educators at the international level.
From 2005 to 2013 he served as member of the Chair Committee of the Croatian Music and Dance Educators’ Society, and as member of juries for the guitar at regional and national competitions organised by the Ministry of Science and Education, and by HDGPP. He has also served as member of the jury at some international competitions.
He has served as Chair of the Organisation Committee for the national competition of music and dance students held in Varaždin, Chair of the Organisation Committee of the County Youth Music Creativity Festival, member of the National Committee of the Croatian Youth Music Festival, member of the National Organisation Committee for Music and Dance Students’ Competition, member of the Organisation Committee of the Aestas Musica International Baroque Music and Dance School, member of the Festival Council of the Varaždin Baroque Evenings and member of the jury for awarding festival awards of the Varaždin Baroque Evenings.
From 1998 to 2000 he was Chair of the Varaždin Music School Board. From July 2000 to April 2013 he was Head Teacher of the Varaždin School of Music, thus becoming the youngest head teacher of a secondary school in Croatia.
