Croatian choral society "Lipa" Osijek, Croatia
The Croatian choir ‘Lipa’ was founded in 1876 and it has existed under the same name since then. The choir was exclusively a male choir until 1955 and after that it became a mixed choir as it is today. ‘Lipa’ got recognition and attention by singing choir music and therefore it has become an established and cultural meeting point for people who like socializing and singing. The first members’ true love, enthusiasm and valuable knowledge of music marked ‘Lipa’s’ beginning.
It is difficult to name all the events in ‘Lipa’ and around it because it exists and stays in all areas of cultural life in the city of Osijek and its songs have started spreading throughout Croatia and even further. In these 128 years there have been many members, presidents and conductors who have played an important part in Osijek’s cultural life and whose personalities helped ‘Lipa’ become and stay a respected choir. The tradition of singing at concerts and spreading the news about ‘Lipa’ and Croatia has always been valuable to Osijek and Croatia.
New energy started coming to ‘Lipa’ in the last 15 years. A new, refreshed program was developed but it was still based on ‘Lipa’s’ tradition. A new dimension of the choir’s sound was created so that many juries mention the characteristic ‘Lipa’s’ sound. In the last ten years ‘Lipa’ has taken part in many concerts and international competitions in order to present Croatian tradition and culture abroad. Today there are 60 active members in the choir. They are mostly people for whom singing is a hobby for which they work hard with lots of enthusiasm. Most of them are students and university graduates of different professions.
In the last 15 years ‘Lipa’ has enriched its repertoire in which many spiritual, jazz and evergreen compositions have been included as well as various compositions by foreign and Croatian composers dating from renaissance to the 21 C. ‘Lipa’ usually performs a capella but it also cooperates with different instrumentalists. Some of the joint concerts were concerts with the Croatian national TV’s Big Band in the concert hall Vatroslav Lisinski in Zagreb, with jazz band Argus in Osijek and annual concerts with tamburica (Croatian national instrument) orchestra Pajo Kolarić at the opening of Tamburica festival. ‘Lipa’ usually has 20 concerts per year in Croatia and every 3 to 4 years it takes part in international competitions abroad. Besides performing at all major events in the city ‘Lipa’ now has a tradition of Christmas concerts and Annual concerts in the St. Michael’s church in Osijek.
The most important awards and acknowledgements in the last 15 years
State competitions:
1991. The Croatian choir competition in Zadar (organized by the Croatian culture association)
– the third prize, the bronze medal
1993. The Croatian choir competition in Rijeka (organized by the Croatian culture association)
– the first prize, first place, the golden medal
1995. The Croatian choir competition in Zadar (organized by the Croatian culture association)
– the second prize, Nun Čika’s silver cross
1997. The Croatian choir competition in Krk (organized by the Croatian culture association)
– the first prize, first place
1998. The Croatian choir competition in Zagreb (organized by Center for Culture Trešnjevka, Zagreb young amateurs’ association)
- the first prize, second place
1999. The Croatian choir competition in Umag (organized by the Croatian culture association)
– the first prize, first place, golden medal
2001. The Croatian choir competition in Novi Vinodolski (organized by the Croatian culture association)
– the first prize, first place, golden medal
2003. The Croatian choir competition in Novi Vinodolski (organized by the Croatian culture association)
- the first prize, first place, golden medal
2005. The Croatian choir competition in Novigrad Istarski (organized by the Croatian culture association) (www.hrsk.hr)
- the first prize, first place, golden medal
2007. The Croatian choir competition in Novigrad Istarski (organized by the Croatian culture association) (www.hrsk.hr)
- the first prize, first place, golden medal
International competitions:
1999. International choir competition in Budapest, Hungary (organized by MUSICA MUNDI, INTERKULTUR FUNDATION Germany) (www.musica-mundi.com)
- the first prize, golden medal
2001. International choir competition in Zadar, Croatia organized by the Concert office Zadar, Concert office Zagreb) (www.kuz.hr)
- the third prize, Nun Čika’s bronze cross and a special prize awarded by the Croatian Composers’ association for the interpretation of Emil Cossetto’s composition ‘Lastavice’
2002. International choir competition in Italy, Riva del Garda (organized by MUSICA MUNDI; INTERKULTUR FUNDATION Germany),
- the first prize, golden medal
2005. 15th International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music with Petr Eben Award ( organized by NIPOS ARTAMA, an institute of the Czech Ministry of Culture which has the task to further promote non-professional arts, in cooperation with MILLENNIUM Travel Agency Prague and ORFEA Prague) (www.millenniumtravel.cz/christmas)
- third prize, golden medal
2007. The 2nd Malta International Choir Competition and Festival in Malta, Valletta (organized by MUSICA MUNDI, INTERKULTUR FUNDATION and MINISTRY FOR TOURISM AND CULTURE MALTA),
- winner of the A1 category (first prize), golden medal
Acknowledgements:
1996. The city of Osijek’s acknowledgement for contribution to spiritual development of Osijek
2000. osječko-baranjska county’s award for extraordinary achievements
2003. The city of Osijek’s acknowledgement for the golden medal awarded at the State amateur choir competition in Novi Vinodolski
2004. a letter of thanks from HSK at the 55th anniversary for extraordinary achievements and contributions to Croatian culture
A special letter of thanks for singing at a mass during the Pope’s John Paul II visit to Đakovačka and Srijemska diocese. The choir has been recommended for the state president’s award for the achievements at international competitions and other accomplishments.
‘Lipa’ has released its first CD for promotional purposes. It contains compositions dating from different historical periods. All the members are very proud of the CD because it received great reviews. Musicologists and music critics describe it as a valuable educational piece with great quality. Orfej has recently released the second CD ‘Z mojih bregov’. In 2002. a famous Croatian composer maestro Emil Cossetto asked ‘Lipa’ to practice and prepare his composition ‘Z mojih bregov’ so that it wouldn’t be forgotten. ‘Lipa’ welcomed that offer and the song was recorded the same year, the CD has just been released. The cooperation with the composer continued so last year ‘Lipa’ performed at the maestro’s birthday concert in Hrvatski glazbeni zavod in Zagreb. The choir is also proud of a special reward given by the Croatian composers’ association at the International choir competition in Zadar when ‘Lipa’ was also awarded for the best interpretation of the composition ‘Lastavice’ by Emil Cossetto.
‘Lipa’ has always been proud of its people and conductors who have always found a way to share their knowledge of music with all the members. Not only theory but also the sense for musicality and openness towards different types of music are taught from the early beginnings.
Valerija Fischbach (BA in Music) has been a conductor for the last ten years. She became a member in 1989. and started working as a conductor in 1996. She graduated from Pedagogical faculty in Osijek in 1991. She teaches musical theory in the Music school ‘Franjo Kuhač’ where she also works as a children’s choir conductor.
The second (support) conductor is Ozana Tomić (BA in Music) who has also been a choir’s member for a number of years. She graduated from Pedagogical faculty in Osijek and she helps in organizing concerts, tours and other projects. It is because of them that ‘Lipa’ holds a title - “a choir that sings with heart”.