Biography long
Born in 1975. in Zagreb, to both deaf parents. Parents are now retired, the father was a precision mechanic, the mother a worker in the leather footwear industry. Both parents have a natural talent for art – the father designer and sculptor in wood, mother painter in the tradition of the Bulgarian folk art. Žanina’s father is from Croatia, the mother from Bulgaria. In 2004 Žanina got married and took a new surname – her husband’s - Bilic. Before marrying her surname was Caric.
Zanina with parents
Grandmother
Her grandmother, Cvetanka Balabanova Popova, of mother’s side, was a significant person in Zanina’s life. Grandmother moved to Croatia, to live in the family and helped in the upbringing of Zanina. Grandmother was a very strong and emancipated woman. In her business career she was the director of the department in the municipality which explored the organization of amateur cultural events in Sofia, Bulgaria. Her work led to travel throughout Bulgaria and throughout Europe, which at that time ‘eastern’ socialism in Bulgaria was not often.
Very organized, very committed to, very independent, very high criteria and high moral ideals, and transferred the characteristics to her granddaughter.
Grandmother died in 2001. year, after a battle with cancer. Burried in Zagreb.
The grandmother, Cvetana Popova Balabanova
Music education
Žanina began the musical education in Bulgaria, at the age of 4 years, during the summer holidays. Elementary music school in Zagreb, later a secondary music school also in Zagreb, and then the Music academy at the University of Zagreb. Later she proceeded abroad for post-graduate studies – Poland and Germany, and also attended a masterclass in France by Professor Gornostaeva, which had a deep impact on her playing.
Graduation concert before entering the Music academy
Teachers
The first teacher of music (piano and music theory basis) was Mrs. Ljiljana Petkova in Bulgaria. In Zagreb, Maja Careva, then prof. Olga Detiček, which was then taught in primary and secondary school music ‘Lisinski, and prof. Marija Gvozdić-Horvat, who teaches at the Music Academy in Zagreb.
Two strong personalities influenced Zanina – prof. Vera Gornostaeva, world-famous Russian pianist and music teacher,and professor Karl-Hermann Mrongovius, with whom it was 2 year of study in Munich. Prof. Mrongovius is a well-known German pianist, famous throughout Europe, especially appreciated for the appearances in a piano duo, with his wife, Spanish pianist, Begonia Uriarte.
Concerts in Croatia and abroad.
Awards
Žanina won two awards at national piano competitions – the second prize in 1987. The first award in 1992. She was also awarded the prize of Dean of Music Academy in Zagreb, 1994. for the Performance of Grieg Piano concerto with the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra in KD Lisinski. Twice awarded the Rector’s award at the University of Zagreb – for concert performances in Japan and concert performances in Croatia. City of Pakrac (Croatia) has awarded Zanina with a Golden Medal appreciating what Zanina has done for the city by organizing the charity action Upright piano for Pakrac, providing much needed 5 musical instruments – pianos for the local primary music school.
Grieg Concerto with Zagreb Philharmonics, Zagreb, 1994, an award winning performance - Dean's award of the Music academy in Zagreb.
Appearances
Public performances are indivisible part of education for the piano player. Žanina performed from early age at concerts in Croatia and Bulgaria, and Poland, France, Japan, Germany, the Czech Republic. She graduated piano in Zagreb at the age of 20 years with great success, then undertook 2 post-graduate studies winning both scolarships.
Recital in Sofia, Bulgaria,1996/7.
The first post-graduate in Poland, at the International Mozart Academy lasted 6 months. Academy has also provided scholarship, and the focus was on chamber music and contemporary composers. The next was in Germany, at the Academy of Music in Munich (Musikhochschule) , lasted 2 years for piano solo. Scholarship was provided by the German agency for academic exchange (DAAD).
Back in Croatia
1998 years, upon his return to Croatia, Zanina was faced with two basic questions: how to earn money for living and build up a career in piano playing?
The market for classical music in Croatia is very small, and the number of audience and number of concert hall is very small. A series of attempts to regular concert activities foster a climate of support temporarily ceased in 2003. year.
New initiatives
The passion for music finally won. Organizational skills, knowledge of the work on the computer, constantly acquiring new knowledge, flexibility, commitment and excellent command of 4 foreign languages enabled Žanina to work in different jobs in different sectors. After several different jobs – working relationship with full-time employment, which have more or less been associated with music or art, Zanina launched in January 2006 a project of her own private piano school called ‘Florens PIANO SCHOOL’, in honor of her grandmother Cvetanka (whose name would be in the Croatian may either Cvijeta, and in Latin ‘Florens’, except the root of the word associated with flowers, has its own meaning ‘one who grows, who prospers’).
New enthusiasm for new concerts.
Florens Piano School Project
Florens music school offers piano lessons to adults and children, regardless of their musical background.
The aim is to promote positive effects for learning and playing piano as hobby.
The aim of Florens school to grow into a recognizable school.
Current concerts
One of the main goals was to revive her concert activities. Regular public appearances are extremely important. Zanina held 5 recitals with ‘Waltzes of Return’ in Zagreb during the season 2006/07 .
Zanina with her daughter.