Benjamin Klanjac
Benjamin Klanjac (born 2002) is a Croatian musician and composer, known for his performances and recordings in Oberkrainer music as well as classical music.
Early life and education
Benjamin Klanjac was born in Rijeka, Croatia. At the age of five, he began learning his first instrument, the harmonika triestina, built in 1937, with guidance from his grandfather in Lovran. His musical talent was recognized early, leading him to participate in festivals such as Z armuniku po starinsku (Pasjak), Zasopimo i zakantajmo po stare užance (Boljun), Festival heligonki, and Z armuniku v Roč (Roč).
He later enrolled at the Aleksandra Jug Matić private music school in Rijeka to study the violin. Eventually, he transferred to Ivan Matetić Ronjgov, where he switched to the viola, completed high school, and passed the Croatian Matura exam.
Career and achievements
Klanjac began participating in competitions, youth orchestra workshops, and seminars starting in 2014. He has performed with the Pannon Youth Orchestra in Eisenstadt, Austria; El Sistema in Istanbul, Turkey; Camerata Salzburg; and SoDo in Poreč, Croatia.
He trained under professors Nives Vadlja Šimunić (Viola) and Darko Đekić (Solfeggio) for competitions. He has also been awarded the Oskar Znanja twice for his musical achievements. Notable accomplishments include:
- 2014: Zadar regionals, 2nd category – 2nd place (94/100 points); state competition, Velika Gorica – 2nd place (97/100 points), HDGPP Viola
- 2015: Zadar regionals, 1st category – 1st place (98.75/100 points); state competition, Dubrovnik – 2nd place (97.85/100 points), HDGPP Solfeggio
- 2015: Križevci Competition of Young Musicians – 1st place (96.5/100 points), Solfeggio
- 2016: State competition, Zagreb – 1st place (99.14/100 points), Viola; Kornelije Competition, Belgrade – 1st place (oral and written), Solfeggio
- 2017: Rijeka regionals, 2nd category – 1st place (98.33/100 points); state competition, Zagreb – 1st place (99.62/100 points), HDGPP chamber music (string quartet); Split international competition, 4th category – 2nd place, Daleki Akordi
- 2018: Zadar regionals, 3rd category – 1st place (98.63/100 points); state competition, Zagreb – 1st place (99.16/100 points), HDGPP Viola
- 2019: Čakovec, Rudolf Matz international string competition, 4th category – 2nd place
- 2020: Zadar regionals, 5th category – 1st place (97.90/100 points)
Participation in the Rudolf Matz competition allowed Klanjac to perform Johann Nepomuk Hummel's Fantasie for Viola with the youth orchestra in Grožnjan and at the Vatroslav Lisinski concert hall under the mentorship of Professor Milan Čunko.
After finishing high school, he enrolled at Kunstuniversität Graz, where he studies the viola under Professor Herbert Kefer. During his studies, he began composing and completed a symphony in G minor lasting over fifty minutes.
In addition to classical music, Klanjac launched a YouTube channel, OberkrainerLife, in 2024, where he posts original compositions and Oberkrainer covers of popular Croatian songs from the 1970s to the 1990s, performing all instruments himself.
Other activities
Klanjac is involved in music education, teaching both theory and performance. He is a member of the Peregrinus Piano Quintet and the MischMasch Oberkrainer Septett in Graz, and frequently substitutes for other local Croatian bands for performances.
Personal life
Klanjac resides in Graz, Austria, and is active in both local and online music communities.
References
https://www.hdgpp.hr/assets/files/natjecanja/rezultati/drzavna/52-drzavno-solisti-rezultati.pdf
https://www.hdgpp.hr/assets/files/natjecanja/rezultati/drzavna/54-drzavno-solisti-rezultati.pdf
https://www.azoo.hr/app/uploads/uvezeno/images/NATJECANJA2017/55Drzavnonatjecanje2017KNJIZICA.pdf
https://www.hdgpp.hr/assets/files/natjecanja/56/solisti/56-drzavno-solisti-rezultati.pdf
http://dalekiakordi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/DA-2017-Gudaci_4kategorija.pdf
External links
https://youtube.com/@oberkrainerlife261?si=09Ul8gi8dL7ckO6-
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