On December 5th, 2008 Stjepan Hauser won two first prizes at the International Music Competition “Francesco Forgione” in Verbania, Italy near Milano. He won 100 points out of 100 and became absolute winner in two different categories (Solo and Solo with Orchestra). A part of the prize includes 70 concerts in Italy.
Category: Awards
Hrvoje Gunjaca: Great story about operation of eagle owl on CNN
An injured eagle owl was brought to the Falconry centre near Šibenik, Croatia, with its wings badly damaged. Under carefully measured anaesthetic, 30 damaged feathers have been changed with new feathers. The operation was done by Emilio Menđušić, director of the centre (on the photo). The resulting film prepared by Hrvoje Gunjača was awarded by CNN.
Valentina Golubenko and Ivan Saric young Croatian world chess champions
Valentina Golubenko and Ivan Šarić are world youth chess champions for 2008, at the competition organized in Vietnam. With two gold medals and one bronze, Croatia is ranked third at the World Competition, after India and Vietnam, and before China, Russia, USA, Germany etc. Congratulations from the CROWN!
Marin Cilic beats Mardy Fish at Pilot Pen for first ATP victory
Marin Cilic of Croatia won his first ATP Tour event Saturday, beating American Mardy Fish 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 at the Pilot Pen, a U.S. Open tuneup. Despite having the crowd against him, the 19-year-old Cilic broke the hard-serving Fish five times, three times in the final set, to secure the win in his first finals appearance.
Blanka Vlasic wins historic Olympic medal for Croatia at Beijing 2008
Then comes a small “poof” when Vlasic lands in the thick pad, the bar undisturbed. Seven times she did this Saturday night, the obediently motionless bar a little higher each time. The noise inhaled by the gasp of 91,000 fans. The high-jump contest was advertised as the showcase of a legend in this sport, Blanka Vlasic’s 14-month winning streak at 38. A true pride of Croatia.
Ivana Zahirović, outstanding Croatian flutist, won the first prize in Italy
Ivana Zahirovic, outstanding Croatian flutist, has won the first prize at the 4th International Competition for woodwinds “AUDI Mozart 2008”. The competition took place in Rovereto, Italy, from 9th to 24th May 2008.
Croatia – Land of World Swimming Record Holders
Two world swimming records are an achievement not even larger and stronger countries, than our “little” Croatia, can afford. But at this moment Croatians are celebrating and bragging with such achievements, thanks to Duje Draganja and Sanja Jovanovic, young swimmers who brought the world’s swimming to its knees.
Duje Draganja, the fastest swimming man on the planet Earth
Croatian Superman, Duje Draganja, the fastest swimming man on the planet conquers world record on 50 meters free style in Manchester, England on April 11th 2008. The Croatian swimmer, wearing Speedo’s LZR Racer suit, finished in 20.81 seconds.
David Diehl gets the Super Bowl 42
Croatian American David Diehl in the light of glory, after wining 42nd Super Bowl for New York Giants. In five NFL seasons, durable jack-of-all-trades David Diehl has started every game the Giants have played – 85, including playoffs.
Croatia's Sanja Jovanovic sets 50m backstroke world record Dec 15th 2007
Croatia’s Sanja Jovanovic has set a new world record on her way to winning a short-course swimming race at the European Championships in Hungary. Jovanovic finished the 50-meter backstroke in 26.5 seconds, 0.33 seconds faster than the previous record set by China’s Hui Li.
Zoran Dukić, Croatian guitarist, one of the most prominent players of today
Zoran Dukić won more prizes on international competitions than any other guitarist in the world. He had solo concerts in more than 30 countries on all five continents. He is teaching among others at the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague, Hochschule für Musik in Aachen, and at the Escuela Superior de Musica de Barcelona.
Toronto Croatia wins Canadian Soccer League championship series title 2007
Toronto Croatia didn’t score a goal in the second leg of their Canadian Soccer League championship series with the Serbian White Eagles. It turns out they didn’t need one, meaning Croatia’s 4-1 victory in Saturday’s first leg was enough to give the Mississauga, Ont.-based team the title.
Miro Gavran's great international success: Grand-Prix in Russia
Miro Gavran’s plays have recently been performed in Russia, Austria and Poland with great success. His play “My Wife’s Husband”, performed under the direction of outstanding Russian artist Alexander Ogarjev, obtained three important prizes, among others the Grand-Prix for the best overall performance.
President Mesić decorated the US Admiral Lunney with the Order of Trefoil
The decoration was presented to Lunney at a ceremony in the Croatian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York on Sept. 26th 2007. Admiral Lunney invested a lot of efforts, time and enthusiasm to find the family of Croat Peter Tomich, who was killed in the attack on Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941, so as to present them with the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Ace-king Karlovic pounds out third title of season in Stockholm
Croatian Ivo Karlovic fired 27 aces to lift his third title of the season on a different surface as he won the indoor Stockholm Open. Along with impeccable Roger Federer, Karlovic is the only other play in the ATP to own titles on three contrasting surfaces during the campaign.
Opportunity for Croatian Talent – RechargeIT Request for Investment
Earlier this summer, Google.org launched its RechargeIT Initiative to accelerate the adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and vehicle-to-grid technology through technical demonstrations, grant-making, advocacy and investments.
PYRAMID on top of the Pyramid – Monumental success of Croatian TV
The Pyramid is a unique combination of talk show and game show. Europroducciones has already optioned the format for Spain, Italy and Portugal, as has Gestion Avanti Cine Video for French speaking Canada. (photo) Dubravko Merlic and Zeljka Ogresta
Croatia's Blanka Vlasic wins GOLD at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka
Blanka Vlasic, Croatian high jumper, confirmed her status as the premier athlete in the women’s event with an easy victory at the IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan. Croatia’s Blanka Vlasic has won 12 out of the 13 outdoor competitions she has entered this year 2007.
Zoran Orlić – Brilliant book – The Frames behind the glass – True Rock and Roll
Zoran Orlic is a Croatian-born fine arts photographer with a flair for revealing the many moods of rock photography. Orlic’s passion for the camera and music has led him to capture rock bands on film for the last seventeen years. Orlic’s snapshots have appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, websites and music packaging. A new star is born.
Martin Sinkovic wins bronze in Beijing
Martin Sinkovic (left) won a bronze medal at the World Rowing Junior Championships in Beijing, China.