Viktor told him that he had a sister who wanted to learn, too, and I started studying with István. Later on, Viktor studied in Zagreb at the National Musical Academy with István Romer. There was a good music school in Karlovac, our hometown. There is a long tradition of classical guitar in Croatia, and at the time, it was one of the most popular instruments. Was Viktor self-taught or did he have a good teacher? He started teaching me guitar and Silvije taught me about reading music. Viktor, my oldest brother, is the reason I started playing guitar. I have two older brothers: Silvije is a pianist and Viktor is a guitarist. None of our relatives died in the fighting or had their homes destroyed, but we knew people who experienced that. We knew what was going on around us, but our parents made sure we went to school and practiced. My parents were very supportive of the interest my brothers and I had in music. Did that affect your music studies?ĪNA VIDOVIC: There was a lot of pain and suffering at that time, and for my family, music was the best medicine. But it’s the life she has happily chosen, and she’s all in.ĬLASSICAL GUITAR: You grew up against the backdrop of the Croatian War of Independence. Vidovic’s time on stage is priceless to her, and yet she concedes that the touring life is hard. Her eyes widen as she speaks about favorite film composers, attending a concert by the rock band Toto to celebrate her birthday, and finally getting to play Australia. Last November, at a quiet cafe just outside of Baltimore (her home for over a decade and a half), she paused to share some thoughts about her life and career. She has released six recordings and two live DVDs, and her live YouTube videos have garnered over 35 million views. Since earning her artist diploma and launching her career in 2005, she has played to growing audiences across North America, Europe, Asia, and South America. At 20, she was invited to study with Manuel Barrueco at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. She was performing publicly by the time she was eight, and she won her first international competition at 13 six more competition wins would follow. Vidovic took up the instrument at age five after hearing her brother Viktor play. Her message to the world is that in the hands of great interpreters, there is yet much depth and beauty to be revealed in the classical guitar and its repertory. BY MARK SMALL | JOEY LUSTERMAN PHOTOS | FROM THE SPRING 2019 ISSUE OF CLASSICAL GUITARĬroatian-born Ana Vidovic is among a highly accomplished group of young guitar virtuosi whose technical mastery and stage presence are capturing the hearts and minds of fans around the globe.

Ana vidovic plays bach