Pavao Mašić
Pavao Mašić (Šibenik, 1980), Croatian harpsichordist and organist, studied harpsichord in the class of Višnja Mažuran and organ in the class of Mario Penzar at the Zagreb Music Academy, after which he accomplished Master’s degree in organ in the class of Kei Koito at the High Music School in Lausanne, as well as in harpsichord in the class of Robert Hill and Michael Behringer at the High Music School in Freiburg im Breisgau. For the last four years he has been working with some of the most renowned harpsichordists, such as Pierre Hantaї, Christophe Rousset and Skip Sempé, under whose auspices he has dedicated himself to the repertoire of J. S. Bach and French Baroque composers. Bob van Asperen, Ton Koopman, Laurence Cummings, Anđelko Klobučar, Daniel Roth, Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini, Christoph Bossert and Katherine Bine Bryndorf are but few among many highly acclaimed artists under whose artistic guidance he participated at various international courses dedicated to the music for harpsichord and organ.
Great number of first prizes at the international and Croatian competitions define him as one of the outstanding artists of his generation: Grand Prix Bach de Lausanne (Switzerland, 2006), Andrea Antico da Montona (Croatia, 2006), Ivo Vuljević prize as the best young Croatian musician in 2006. In 2009 he was a laureate at the 1. Concurso internacional CAI de Organo which took place in Zaragoza (Spain). Furthermore, 2010 was likewise very successful when he won all three prizes awarded to prominent artists by Varaždin Baroque Evenings: Ivan Lukačić prize for the harpsichord recital, Jurica Murai prize for the solo organ recital as the best interpretation at the 40th Varaždin Baroque Evenings, and finally Kantor prize for the best interpretation of J. S. Bach’s compositions. His first solo CD 1685, featuring harpsichord works by J.S. Bach, G.F. Handel and D. Scarlatti was awarded as Best Classical Music Album of the Year 2012.
Since 1999 he has been titular organist of ancient St Mark’s Church in Zagreb. He performed as soloist with Croatian Baroque Ensemble, Zagreb Soloists, La Risonanza, Lausanne High Music School Orchestra, and Zagreb Philharmonics (with which he premiered Carillon, concerto for organ and the orchestra by Ante Knešaurek in 2006). Currently he works as senior lecturer at the Music Academy in Zagreb where he teaches the harpsichord and basso continuo. His abundant concert activity includes complete performance of J. S. Bach organ works together with organist Ante Knešaurek in extensive concert cycle comprised of 17 recitals at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Zagreb (2010 –2012). Along with Ante Knešaurek he received Milka Trnina Prize (2012) for what represents the first systematic performance of the complete Bach’s organ works in Croatia.
pavaomasic.weebly.com