The Far Eastern University Center for the Arts and the FEU Institute of Arts and Sciences (IAS), in partnership with the soon-to-open Embassy of Croatia in Manila, proudly present “ECHOES OF CROATIA in the Philippines.”
Set your eyes and ears on 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘇𝘁𝗲𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗱𝗮, a 14-year-old Filipina prodigy and Croatia’s Got Talent 2023 winner, as she captivates you with her stunning voice alongside internationally acclaimed Croatian artists — 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗮 𝗧𝗸𝗮𝗹č𝗶ć (mezzo-soprano) and 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗷𝗲𝗹 𝗢𝘁𝗼 (pianist, educator, and chamber musician).
Experience an afternoon filled with harmony that bridges nations on October 14, 3:00 pm at the FEU Auditorium.
Chriztel Renae Aceveda, a 14-year-old soprano originally from Pampanga, Philippines, has been living in Sveti Martin na Muri, Croatia since 2020. She first captured the hearts of the public with her interpretation of a traditional Međimurje folk song on Supertalent, and has continued to delight audiences across Croatia ever since. From the age of five, she showed a passion for music, singing karaoke with her mother. In Croatia, she quickly embraced the local culture, especially the region’s musical heritage and traditional attire. Chriztel is an 8th-grade student at Primary School Sveti Martin na Muri, a member of the school choir and part of the local cultural and artistic society HKUU Sveti Martin. She studies voice in the preparatory program of the Varaždin Music School under the guidance of Blanka Tkalčić. Her performances of authentic Međimurje folk songs have been compared to the legendary “Aunt Liza”, and her emotional expressiveness leaves audiences breathless. She has performed at numerous traditional music events, charity concerts, and public festivals, including collaborations with Croatia’s folk music icon Lidija Bajuk. She won the Supertalent show, the Prvi glas Zagorja contest, the Mali MEF Grand Prix, and first prize at the Brežice Festival in Slovenia. Through her singing, Chriztel celebrates her second homeland—Croatia—while remaining proudly connected to her Filipino roots.
Blanka Tkalčić, mezzo-soprano, was born in Čakovec in 1978. She attended the Varaždin Music School and studied voice with Darija Hreljanović, later continuing at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz under Ulf Bästlein. She holds both a diploma and master’s degree in lied and oratorio and specialized further under renowned mentors such as Silvia Bazzoni-Bartoli and Lidija Horvat-Dunjko. Blanka has performed widely in Croatia and abroad (Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, Italy, Estonia, Czech Republic, Russia, etc.), with prestigious orchestras such as the Zagreb Philharmonic, Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, Wiener Johann Strauss Capelle, and Paris Chamber Orchestra. Her repertoire spans oratorios, masses, and operas—from Mozart’s Requiem to roles in operettas like The Merry Widow, Countess Maritza, and Die Fledermaus. She is also an acclaimed pedagogue, teaching voice at the Varaždin Music School and working with Opera BB under maestro Vladimir Kranjčević, with whom she has sung roles in operas by Pergolesi, Menotti, Rossini, Donizetti, and others. She is a member of the Europeisches Musik Zentrum Wien.
Danijel Oto, pianist, began his piano studies at the age of 12 and entered the Zagreb Music Academy at 18 under the tutelage of Vladimir Krpan. He graduated in 2009 with top honors and has continued his development through masterclasses with renowned pedagogues such as Franco Scala, Peter Eicher, and Konstantin Krasnitsky. He has performed in prestigious venues across Europe (Vienna, Paris, Rome, Zurich, Zagreb, Belgrade), recorded for Croatian Radio and Television, and collaborated with prominent artists. A sought-after chamber musician and official accompanist at international competitions, Danijel is regularly invited as a jury member in piano competitions across Europe. Since 2008, he has been working as an accompanist and piano teacher at the Varaždin School of Music, and he is currently also an assistant at University North (Department of Music and Media). His students have won over 200 awards at national and international competitions. He is also a regular faculty member at the Grožnjan International Summer Piano School.
Admission is 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 !
Secure your seats by registering through this link: https://forms.office.com/r/yx6wzkkxvn
#echoesofcroatiaph #croatiaphilippines #feucampuslife #FCA #FEUIAS
