Josip Kaplan Mixed Choir

Biography

The choir is widely known to the public for winning the first season of the Croatian National Television (HRT) show Do posljednjeg zbora (To the Last Choir Standing) in 2012, as well as for its many accomplished projects and collaborations. These include concerts with Tony Cetinski in Ljubljana, Pula, and Zagreb; a concert with Doris Dragović at the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall; a performance of Brahms’s Nänie in 2013 under the baton of maestro Kranjčević, also at Lisinski; a performance at the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the military-police operation Storm in Zagreb; the musical stage performance “Šapat vječnosti”  (Whisper of Eternity) in collaboration with the dance group “Ri Dance” in 2016; concert with the Orchestra of the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc Rijeka conducted by maestro Fačini in 2018; the 2018 Christmas Concert with the same orchestra; participation in the musical Evita by T. Rice and A. L. Webber at the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc and Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall in the 2019/2020 season; participation in the performance of Stabat Mater with the Rijeka Symphony Orchestra under the baton of maestro Fačini in 2025; and participation in a concert “Playlista mog djetinjstva” (Playlist of My Childhood) marking the 10th anniversary of the Zvjezdan Ružić Sextet.

The choir has achieved numerous notable successes at choral competitions in Croatia and abroad, including 9 national gold medals, 15 international gold medals, 6 international silver medals, and many special awards for artistic impression, program selection, best performance of individual pieces, stage presence, conducting, and more. Furthermore, the choir has won three Grand Prix awards: at the international competition Lege Artis in Tuzla (2018), at the 56th Meeting of Croatian Choirs in Novigrad (2023), and at the international competition Golden Linden of Tuhelj (2024).

The choir’s repertoire includes artistic works from all periods – from the Renaissance to the 21st century – as well as arrangements of folk, popular, and gospel music. The choir has made studio recordings of RiRock Medley, Božić dolazi (Christmas Is Coming), and the original composition Božićni osjećaj (Christmas Feeling), and has produced music videos for the last two. However, their greatest joy lies in performing the works of the composer whose name they proudly bear – Josip Kaplan.
The choir is conducted by artistic director Doris Kovačić.

Josip Kaplan Mixed Choir

Competitions and Achievements

2025.

Ljubljana, December 2025 – Victoria Ljubljana International Choral Competition, Slovenia (international competition)

Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel, Ljubav se zove imenom tvojim, Father Thunder
Gold Diploma (Level II) – 92.3
Pop/Jazz/Modern category

Calella, October 2025 – 11th Canta al Mar, Spain (international competition)

Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel, Hrvatska rapsodija, Father Thunder
Gold Diploma (Level IV) – 23.75
Winners of the Small Mixed Choirs category
35 choirs from 22 countries – Kaplan was the only representative from Croatia
8th place overall (out of 47, some choirs participated in multiple categories)

Zadar, May 2025 – 14th International Choir Competition in Zadar

Tanzen und Springen, Voćka poslije kiše, Double Double Toil and Trouble, Ubi Caritas, Hrvatska Rapsodija, Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel
1st Prize, Abbess Čika Bronze Cross, Special Award for Best Program Selection

Previous Years

2024.

Lisbon, November 2024 – 3rd Lisbon Sings, Portugal (international competition)


Double Double Toil and Trouble, Voćka poslije kiše, Primorski Napjevi, The Battle of Jericho
Gold Diploma (Level IV), 2nd in the more difficult category, 3rd overall
28 choirs from 17 countries – Kaplan was the only representative from Croatia

Tuhelj, June 2024 – 15th Zlatna Lipa Tuhelj, Tuhelj (international competition)

Now Is the Month of Maying, Dugo u noć, The Battle of Jericho, Nyon Nyon
Gold Plaque, Grand Prix, Award for Best Program Selection

2023.

Novigrad, October 2023 – 56th Meeting of Croatian Choirs (national competition)


Now Is the Month of Maying, Nyon Nyon, Dugo u noć
Gold Plaque, Grand Prix, Award for Best Performance of a Work by a Croatian Composer (Dugo u noć)

Herceg Novi, October 2023 – 8th International Choir Festival in Herceg Novi

Konjičku, Now Is the Month of Maying, Primorski Napjevi, Nyon Nyon
Gold Diploma and Special Recognition for Best Program Concept

Zadar, May 2023 – 13th International Choir Competition in Zadar

Now Is the Month of Maying, The Battle of Jericho, Nyon Nyon, Primorski Napjevi, Dugo u noć
1st Prize, Abbess Čika Silver Cross, Special Award for Best Program Selection, Award for Best Performance of a Work by a Croatian Composer (Dugo u noć)

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