The Living Instrument in 2012 heralds the call to bring people together.  Through a series of concerts, workshops and a symposium, the Living Instrument celebrates the culture of Croatia in a contemporary setting. 

The event will open on Wednesday 5^th December with a symposium and gala concert. Lead by musicologist and composer Dr Ruth Lee Martin, the symposium will feature Croatian Musicologist and Director General of the International Council for traditional Music, Svanibor Pettan and New Zealand–based musicologist and Croatian folk virtuoso, Goran Kacurov.

The gala concert that follows will be inspired by Croatian folklore, combining music with poetry and song in a unique presentation that embraces the merging of traditional Croatian cultural practice with western art music. The concert will feature new works by Croatian composers including Croatia’s president, Dr Ivo Josipović, as well as music especially composed for this event by internationally acclaimed Australian composer, Dr Mary Finsterer. The performance of the work brings together a diversity of international and local musicians from folk and classical traditions, including Canberra’s Croatian Tamburica Ensemble, Loza, singing group, Klapa Galeb and New Zealand–based virtuoso, Goran Kacurov.  These celebrated artists will come together to perform alongside acclaimed musicians from the western art tradition including internationally acclaimed cellist David Pereira and harpist Alice Giles, both lecturers of the School of Music, Australian National University.

Event partners: The Centenary of Canberra, The School of Music, The Australian National University, The Belconnen Arts Centre, The National Folk Festival, The Embassy of the Republic of Croatia.