2025 Merit Award Recipient

Šime is entering his second year of classical guitar studies at McGill University. He is also an active tambura player with the Croatian National Home in Hamilton, supporting the preservation of Croatian musical heritage.

An award-winning musician, Šime earned a scholarship and first-place finishes at the 2022 Hamilton Music Festival. In 2023, he performed as a double bassist at the Heritage Musical Festival in New York City, where his ensembles received Gold Ratings and High Scores.

2024 Merit Award Recipient

Martina began music lessons at age three and is a versatile multi-instrumentalist, performing on piano, guitar, flute, and vocals. She has been deeply involved in Croatian music and folklore for over a decade through tambura and kolo ensembles.

A passionate songwriter and performer, she released her first album in June 2024 and is currently in her first year of the Music Administration undergraduate program at Western University, pursuing a professional music career with support from the CCCS Merit Award.

2023 Merit Award Recipient

Luka began piano lessons at age five and completed Royal Conservatory Level 10 with first-class honours in piano and theory. He is an active member of the Croatian Parish Folklore group “Sljeme,” performing in the senior tambura ensemble, teaching the intermediate group, and arranging music for the ensemble.

Currently enrolled in the Music Performance Program at Wilfrid Laurier University, Luka continues to share his talents through teaching and guest performances at CCCS concerts whenever possible.

2019 Merit Award Recipient

Mia began formal piano lessons at age five and joined the Croatian Folklore Ensemble Kralj Zvonimir at six. She later studied voice, sang in a children’s choir, and taught piano and voice to young students while creating and conducting a parish youth choir.

Merit Award funding supported her studies at Queen’s University, where she completed an Honours Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Education in lyric soprano performance. Today, Mia is the CCCS Artistic Director and also teaches elementary French immersion and Croatian language programs.

2019 Merit Award Recipient

Michael began classical piano training at a young age and joined the Croatian National Home Folklore Ensemble as a tambura player and dancer at six. He developed a strong interest in musical theatre and dance, studied classical voice, and frequently performs as a church vocalist.

He completed Grade 10 Piano and Rudiments certificates at the Royal Conservatory of Music, earned a classical piano diploma at Mohawk College, and received the Associate Diploma, the highest academic standing in the Royal Conservatory certificate program. Michael continues to give guest performances at CCCS concerts whenever possible.

2018 Merit Award Recipient

Danijela began composing and playing music at age five and studied voice at the Royal Conservatory of Music during elementary school. She performed with high school jazz and concert choirs, played French horn and trombone in wind ensembles, and was active in teaching and community music, including local Croatian ensembles and the Zagreb Radio TV Orchestra.

Supported in part by the Merit Award, she earned a Bachelor of Music in Integrated Musical Arts at Wilfrid Laurier University, focusing on songwriting, recorded music, and live performance production. Since graduating in 2022, she continues her work as a recording artist under the name Dani Kristina and hopes to pursue a master’s degree in music.

2017 Merit Award Recipient

Adam began piano training at age five and was active as a tambura player and dancer with Folklore Ensemble Hrvatsko Prelo as a child. Supported in part by the Merit Award, he earned a Bachelor of Music in piano performance from Western University, receiving the UWO Gold Medal for the highest graduating average.

Adam completed the Audio Production program at Toronto’s Harris Institute with top honours and currently serves as the CCCS Accompanist and Music Arranger. He works full-time as a music supervisor at Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana studio and continues to teach piano and perform publicly, inspired by his love of Mozart and Liszt.

2016 Merit Award Recipient

Andrew showed a natural musical gift and love of Croatian folklore from a young age. He mastered the tamburica, performed with Folklore Ensemble Hrvatsko Prelo for nine years, and has taught tamburica and other instruments to students while composing and arranging jazz and tambura pieces.

Supported in part by the Merit Award, Andrew earned an Honours Bachelor of Music from McMaster University with a focus on jazz guitar and completed a Bachelor of Education at Western University. He continues to teach music in the Waterloo Region, give private lessons, and perform with the CCCS when possible.

2015 Merit Award Recipient

Matija was introduced to Croatian folklore and the tamburica as a pre-teen and, by age 14, played with the Croatia Radio and TV Tamburica Orchestra. He has performed with multiple folklore ensembles, earned advanced piano and music theory certificates, and began playing French horn in high school.

Supported in part by the Merit Award, Matija earned an Honours Bachelor of Music in composition from Wilfrid Laurier University, performing with the Wind Symphony and composing works for various ensembles. He later completed a double MBA and is currently living in Zagreb while pursuing a Bachelor of Law at Tilburg University, as well as founding and leading Crodiaspora.

2014 Merit Award Recipient

Julijana began classical piano and vocal training at age nine and received multiple music excellence awards throughout high school. She has performed with Cirque du Soleil, the Rolling Stones’ 50 and Counting tour, and the Croatian band Gazde, and won several competition awards.

Supported in part by the Merit Award, Julijana earned an Honours Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from Wilfrid Laurier University, where she composed and performed extensively. She now focuses on film composition and teaching music through her Mississauga-based Fortepiano Music Studio, with credits including the TVO series My Home, My Life and the award-winning short film Red Candle.

2013 Merit Award Recipient

Ivica began tambura training as a young member of Mississauga’s Croatian Martyrs Parish folklore ensemble Sljeme, developing a rich bass voice early on. He arranged and taught music while performing in ensembles as a teenager.

Supported in part by the Merit Award, Ivica earned a Bachelor of Music and Diploma in Opera from Wilfrid Laurier University, performing in numerous operas and concerts. He has performed in paid engagements across Canada and Europe, and continues to perform and make guest appearances at CCCS concerts, having also served as tenor and bass sectional leader during the COVID-19 pandemic.