26th International Festival “The Days of Organ – Dies organorum”: SPLIT WOMEN’S CHOIR and PERO PROSENICA

The Split Women’s Choir was founded more than 30 years ago, and since 2019 the conductor has been organist Pero Prosenica. They will present a diverse program to the Belgrade audience. Some of the songs will be performed by flutist Marija Bašić Markotić.
The concert is a continuation of the cooperation that began last year when the opening concert of the 25th festival Days of organ was also presented in Split. We are organizing the concert in cooperation Jeunesses Musicales Split.

Program:
Mato Lešćan (1936–1991)
Introduction and chorale Pjevaj hvale, Magdaleno for organ

Jacobus Gallus (1550–1591)
Eripe me Domine

Bepi de Marzi (1935)
Gerusalemme

Josip Hatze (1879–1959)
Pjesma Gospi, nuns’ choir from the opera Adel i Mara

Johan Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Adagio for flute and organ from Concerto for harpsichord, strings and continuo No. 5, BWV 1056

Ljubomir Kuntarić (1925–2016)
Molitva

Bepi de Marzi
Signore delle cime

A spiritual song The gospel train’s a-comin’ (arr. Brian Trant)

Giulio Caccini (1550–1618)
Ave Maria for flute and organ

Johann Pachelbel (1653–1706)
Ciacona in D minor for organ

John Taverner (1944–2013)
The Lamb (arr. Pero Prosenica)

Zoltan Kodaly (1882–1967)
Stabat Mater (arr. Pero Prosenica)

Franjo Lučić (1889–1972)
Elegy for organ

Tužno plače, Croatian Traditional Song from Zagorje

Michel Corette (1707–1795)
Grad jeu avec le tonnerre for organ

Biographies:
Split Women’s Choir, also known as the Split Girls’ Choir,  was founded in October 1994 at the cultural association KUD “Jedinstvo” and has been operating independently since 2000. From the very beginning, the choir’s repertoire has been rich and diverse, including sacred and secular works of various styles as well as folk songs from different Croatian regions. The choir pays special attention to performing works by Croatian composers and reviving forgotten pieces by Split-based composers.
Over the years, they have received numerous awards for their work in cultural and humanitarian activities, performing at many national and international competitions and festivals. As one of the most successful amateur choirs, they have twice won the gold plaque at the Varaždin Music Festival and the silver plaque in the women’s choir category at the G. P. da Palestrina Choir Festival in Rome. They have also participated in numerous international festivals in Italy, Austria, Estonia, Finland, and North Macedonia.
The choir also holds the record for the most appearances at the international choir festival CRO PATRIA, where they premiered works by Croatian and foreign composers. The choir was founded and led for many years by prof. Danica Zaić, and since 2019 the conductor has been Pero Prosenica.
Choir members: Meri Perkov, Marija Bašić Markotić, Josipa Grozdanić, Mia Novak, Neda Kelava, Tea Šiškov Sarajčev, Ivona Bitte, Ana Bušić, Snježana Kukrić, Danijela Sodina, Ivana Šarić, Ana-Marija Nujić, Dragana Ivanišević Matić, Gorana Sivić Rušinović, Eda Vučica

Pero Prosenica graduated from the Natural Sciences and Mathematics High School in Split, studied physics and computer science, as well as music at the Institute for Church Music in Zagreb before earning his degree in music pedagogy at the Academy of Arts in Split. He has conducted numerous choirs in Zagreb and Split, collaborated with ensembles such as the HRT Choir and Collegium pro musica sacra, and has taught at international seminars and professional conferences. Since 2021, he has served as choir director and organist at St. Francis Church on the Split waterfront, and since 2025 as choir director and organist at Our Lady of Rosemary in Kaštel Stari. Since 2021. he is employed as director od Jeunesses Musicales Split.

The concert was supported by the City of Split and the Split-Dalmatia County.

Photo credit: Maja Prgomet