Miroslav Miletić (; (22 August 1925 – 3 January 2018) was a Croatian composer and a violin and viola player and teacher.
Education
Born in Sisak, Croatia, Miletić graduated violin from the Zagreb Academy of Music in 1953, in the class of Stjepan Šulek and I. Pinkava, and chamber music in the class of Antonio Janigro. He studied composition privately, and his understanding of music was further deepened through studies in different European centers such as Salzburg, Austria and Hilversum, the Netherlands, where he studied conducting with Lovro von Matačić and Willem van Otterloo, respectively. He continued mastering his studies in Prague; viola with Ladislav Černý, and composition with Pavel Bořkovec.
Miletić collaborated also with Karlheinz Stockhausen on electronic music and continued his studies of contemporary chamber music in Darmstadt in Germany.
Viola player and a music teacher
As time went by, viola was more and more becoming his primary instrument. Miletić performed as a soloist with Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, Radio Bratislava Symphonic Orchestra, and since 1946 he was an active violist of the Zagreb Radio Symphony and the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra. In the 1950s he accepted a full-time position as a viola and violin teacher (as well as the String Department Chair for many years) at the "Pavao Markovac Music School" in Zagreb, Croatia. Even then, due to his excellent sight-reading abilities, he would jump in whenever the Symphony or Philharmonic needed support. However, as a violist, Miletić has found his full expression in chamber music.
In 1982 he retired from his teaching position. He currently resides and composes in Zagreb, Croatia.
Founder, artistic director, and active member of "Pro Arte Zagreb" Quartet
He was not only the founder and an active member of the "Pro Arte Zagreb" String Quartet, but also the artistic director and manager. The quartet performed at more than 2000 concerts, and published records and CDs under his professional guidance. The majority of concerts were held outside Croatia (then Yugoslavia), namely in Europe, Africa, former Soviet Union, and USA. The quartet was invited to two All-State tours throughout the major cities in the US, in 1969 and again in 1972 where they performed in a different city every two days.
The quartet has played a significant role in the Croatian music circles through well-thought-out repertoire choices pointing towards modern music, in particular Croatian music, as well as introducing this music to the audiences around the world.
Croatian Composer
As composer, Miletić has a unique expression that reflects his respect and devotion for Croatian national folklore. From the experience of a reproductive artist he writes symphonic music, operas, concertos for different instruments, chamber music, piano works, as well as film and children music. His special interests and skills are devoted to viola, violin and guitar compositions.
His international success as a composer started in 1958 with the first performance of his "Concerto for Viola and Orchestra" in Hilversum, Nederlands. His compositions for the guitar, the violin, and the viola and chamber music have been published by many international publishers (Schott, Berben, Barenreiter, Meckverlag, Pizzicatto and Edition-Pax). One of his LPs was released in the USA.
Awards and acknowledgements
Miletić won many international awards and acknowledgments. Among them the "Gaudeamus Foundation Award" (Netherlands, 1959) for the Concerto For Viola and Orchestra, the "Golden Lion" in Venice (1960) for music for the film Piko, two gold medals in the Viotti International Music Competition, Vercelli (1967) - for Diptych for Cello and Piano, and Suite In Modo Antico for Flute and Piano. He is also the recipient of numerous domestic awards and prizes.
Every year, in his home town of Sisak, Croatia there is a two-day concert celebration in his honor entitled "The Music Days of Miroslav Miletić". He has been exclusively featured at concerts throughout the world (Paris, Tokyo, Trieste, Vienna, Zagreb, Sisak).
His "Ples za Violinu Solo" (1958) is the most performed classical composition in the history of Croatian music. The musical score for this piece can be found at the university libraries all over the world. http://www.worldcat.org/title/ples-za-violinu-solo/oclc/18252047
Miletić is a member of the international juries at the guitar competitions in Switzerland and Italy, an active member of Croatian Composers' Society, and one of the founders of the Croatian Section of the European Viola Society.
