Igor Lešnik (HR)
Igor Lešnik and organist Mario Penzar presented themselves as a duo for the first time at the Music Biennale Zagreb in 1999 premiering pieces for organ and percussion by Croatian composers. Since that time they extensively toured performing in churches, concert halls and open air in particular. ATTACCANTILENA's repertoire comprises wide variety of works from classics of the genre and duo’s own arrangements of baroque music to premieres and commissioned pieces. Attaccantilena aims at developing from a simple combination of individual artistic characteristics of the members into a musical quality per se. Their previous CD release entitled “Saturday in Lisinski” received the Croatian discography reward in 2001.
As founder of the percussion department at the Music Academy in Zagreb, he is regular guest at renowned universities and his percussion articles have been published in a wide variety of magazines. Professor Lesnik is the president of the Croatian Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society. He has received several awards for his artistic achievements at home and was in 2003 awarded with the French knighthood title for accomplishments in arts and literature(by Michael Udow).In 2011 he received the award of honor by the Universal Marimba Competition for his contribution as pedagogue, virtuoso & composer in the World of percussion & marimba and appears as jury president of this biennial event. Lešnik performed as a soloist and led masterclasses on all continents except Australia.
- Collaboration with percussion celebrities: E. Glennie, J. Beck , N. Rosauro , M. Udow , T. Okada, E. Séjournee, J. Geoffroy, F. Hashimoto, A. Frette, M. Skinner, Percussions Claviers de Lyon, Studio Percussion Austria, L. Albert…
- Received several awards: Josip Slavenski 1990, Milka Trnina 1995, Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres France2002…
- Appeared as jury member in: 2012 International percussion Competition Jeju Korea, 2011 Universal Marimba Competition Belgium, 2005 Perkumania Timpani Competition in France, 2005 Percussion Competition Ribbaroja in Spain, Nicolai Rimsky Korsakoff Competition in Skt. Peterburg Russia, 2003 Campinas South American Marimba Competition in Brazil, 2002 International Vibraphone Competition in Clermont Ferrand France…
- His repertoire highlights includes: dedicated works of Franz Cibulka, Mladen Tarbuk, Ivo Malec, Boris Benini…; Historic works of Johann C.C. Fischer; Standard concerto repertoire of Andre Jolivet, Darius Milhaud, Henri Tomasi, Eugene Bozza, Yvonne Desportes, Lucien Frechon and others…
- His selected discography includes: Rhythmic-2007 Equilibrium/USA, Twenty Years Later 2006 Equilibrium USA, Attaccantilena 2005 Equilibrium / USA, biNg bang plays Lešnik 2004 Equilibrium USA, Saturday in Lisinski 2002 Lisinski Concert Hal l/ HR, Sticks & Winds & Strings 1997 Honeyrock USA, Jolivet Cals Milhaud 1995 Harmonia Mundi France, Supercussion 1991 Koch Austria, Ivory Forest 1989 ICM Switzerland.
- His selected compositions includes: Easter Toccata for Organ and Percussion-2004, Concerto for percussion and orchestra- 2003, Homage a Ball for Soprano and Percussion-1995, Dwarfs for percussion ensemble-2002, Midnight Pieces for solo vibraphone-1996, Chamade Suite-1992, Surrogate 1988…
