Zoran Velić (Split, 1985) graduated in 2008 from the Academy of Music in Zagreb in the class of Prof. Đorđe Stanetti and guest professor Karl-Heinz Kammerling. He continued his postgraduate studies with Prof. Kammerling at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, completing them in 2009. His earlier piano education took place in Split at the Josip Hatze Music School in the class of Prof. Kosovka Čudina.
Already at a young age, he distinguished himself as an award-winning pianist. He is a two-time laureate of the Daleki akordi Competition (Split, 1996 and 1998), a winner of national competitions for solo pianists in Sisak (1997) and Dubrovnik (2003), and—together with Marin Limić—a prizewinner at the Piano Duo Competition in Vinkovci (2001). He also won prizes in his categories at the Zlatko Grgošević International Competition (Zagreb, 2000 and 2002), was the absolute winner of the Etide i skale International Competition (Zagreb, 2002), a first-prize winner at the National Competition in Dubrovnik (2005), and the recipient of the Yamaha Award at the Academy of Music in Zagreb (2005).
Among his numerous concert performances, notable appearances include concerts in Zagreb (graduation recital at the Croatian Music Institute, recitals at the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall and Matica hrvatska), Split (recitals and performances on the main stage and in the foyer of the Croatian National Theatre, as well as the Meštrović Gallery), Osijek (Darko Lukić Memorial), Zadar (Donat Evenings), Rijeka, and Samobor (Samobor Music Autumn).
In December 2012, he performed at the charity event Concert with the President for the association Most at the Croatian National Theatre in Split. In April 2014, he appeared as soloist in Mozart’s Piano Concerto in A major, K. 414, at the Croatian National Theatre in Split under the baton of Pavle Dešpalj. In December 2018, he performed Chopin’s Andante spianato and Grande Polonaise brillante in E-flat major at the New Year’s concerts of the Croatian National Theatre in Split, accompanied by the orchestra conducted by Hari Zlodre.
In November 2020, he gave a recital within the Pleyel Cycle of Svetislav Stančić in Zagreb, followed by a recital at the Croatian House in Split in November 2021. In August 2022, he performed at the 68th Split Summer Festival as a member of the piano quintet Arthesis, presenting works by contemporary Split composers. In June 2024, he gave a solo recital at the Croatian House in Split. In May 2025, together with Katja Repušić, he performed Mozart’s Concerto in E-flat major for Two Pianos with the Zadar Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Ivan Repušić in Zadar. In January 2026, he again appeared in solo recital at the Croatian House in Split.
He has performed with the Split Chamber Orchestra conducted by Ivan Repušić, the Zagreb Philharmonic under Vjekoslav Šutej, and the HRT Symphony Orchestra under Tomislav Fačini, and has also appeared as a soloist with the Zagreb Soloists.
He has further refined his artistry in masterclasses with distinguished pedagogues, including Karl-Heinz Kammerling, Konstantin Bogino, Vladimir Krpan, Đorđe Tikvica, Aleksander Valdmaa, Darko Cikojević, Ivan Kordić, and Cezary Stańczyk.
Since 2010, he has been engaged as a piano professor at the Josip Hatze Music School in Split. Since 2014, he has worked as a répétiteur at the Vocal Department of the Academy of Music in Split, and since 2024, he has served as a piano professor at the same institution.
