Zita Varga

     Country: Croatia
     Instrument: Cello

Zita Varga was born in Cakovec in 1989. She began her music lessons with Dario Milakovic at the Music School in Varazdin and in 2002 continued her studies with Valter Despalj at the Music School Despalj. She regularly attends the master workshops “STRINGS ONLY!” in Zadar and Cello Focus in Pöllauberg (Austria). She has also attended master workshops presented by the internationally renowned teachers Michael Flaxman and Gerhard Mantel.

Zita Varga has made successful appearances at numerous international competitions and was a prize-winner in Gorizia (Italy), Liezen (Austria) and Varpalota (Hungary). She also won the first prize at the national competition in Rijeka in 2002, and the prize "Pliva" at the festival “STRINGS ONLY!”. Her most recent success is the second prize at one of the most prestigious international competitions for young musicians: "Concertino Praga".

She has performed in concerts in Zagreb, Varazdin, Bjelovar, Osijek, Rijeka, Senj and Dubrovnik, as well as abroad (Austria, Slovenia, Liechtenstein, Italy, Russia, Hungary and the Czech Republic). Especially important were her appearances with the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, the Zagreb Soloists and the Varaždin Chamber Orchestra. In 2002 and 2004, Zita represented the Croatian Young Musicians at the Moscow concerts organised by the foundation for young talents and laureates,  Vladimir Spivakov's Fund.

Zita is a member of the Cellomania ensemble, with which she appears in concerts throughout Europe. Last fall she appeared in three concerts with the famous Russian cellist Mischa Maisky.

At the age of 15, Zita entered the Zagreb Music Academy in the class of Professor Valter Despalj. She is now a second-year student.

Repertoire - Semi Finals

• L. Broccherini: Isonata A major, 1st mvt. 
• W. A. Mozart: Sonata in G major 1st mvt. (for Violin), KV 301 
• A. Glasunow: Chant de Menestrel, Op. 71
• G. Cassado: Dance du Diable Vert