Mihael Paar

Clarinetist Mihael Paar (Zagreb, 1980) is recognized as one of the most versatile Croatian musicians of his generation – soloist, composer, arranger, producer and a teacher, who has developed complex and distinctive artistic expression, becoming one of the most prominent representatives of the Croatian clarinet school. He studied at the Music Academy Zagreb and Mozarteum Salzburg earning his MA cum laude in 2006. Paar made his debut as a fifteen-year-old performing Weber’s Concertino with Windstrings Orchestra and has since performed at important Croatian and international concert halls and festivals, collaborating as a soloist with orchestras and ensembles: Franjo Krežma Chamber Orchestra, HRT Tamburitza Orchestra, Samobor Strings, Zagreb Quartet, Porin Quartet, Sebastian Quartet, Acies Quartet and others. He has made notable appearances at international competitions winning 2nd prize in Ohrid, 3rd prize in Barletta and 4th prize in Padua. He is a laureate of the Solti Foundation, recipient of the City of Samobor Award, “Milka Trnina” Diploma and the Award of the Croatian Composers’ Society at “Darko Lukić Tribune”. His debut album Premiere has been critically acclaimed and won Croatian Discography Award Porin in 2018 for Best Classical Composition, also earning nomination for Best Classical Music Performance. Mihael Paar is the artistic director of Lug Spring Festival and Camerata Cantilly, a classical Harmonie ensemble, the only ensemble of its kind in Croatia.