The violinist was a long-time member and concertmaster of the Zagreb Soloists, as well as a pedagogue and jury member
Tonko Ninić, a leading Croatian violinist and educator, died at the age of 90 on Wednesday 27 November.
His death is mourned by the Zagreb Soloists, of which he was a former member and concertmaster for almost four decades, with Ninić recently attending the ensemble’s 70th anniversary celebrations in early November.
’His commitment to art, incredible technical virtuosity and inspiring leadership have shaped the ensemble and contributed to the international reputation of Croatian classical music,’ the ensemble said on social media.
’He was more than an artist – he was a symbol of excellence and human warmth. Zagreb Soloists will never forget his contribution, and his legacy will live on through every note we perform.’
Ninić was born in 1934. He studied violin at the Academy of Music in Zagreb in the class of Vaclav Huml and Ivan Pinkava, later going on to teach at the Academy and hold the title of professor emeritus from 2008.
From 1957 to 1997, he was a member of the Zagreb Soloists and led the Chamber Studio of the Zagreb Philharmonic. He performed as a soloist and chamber musician around the world, including across Europe, the US, Australia and New Zealand.
Ninić served as a jury member for the International Violin Competition Vaclav Huml, which stated: ’We are grateful that he was a teacher and mentor to generations of young violinists, leaving an indelible mark with his advice and especially his interpretations.’
He received the Vladimir Nazor Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003.
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