Lovro Stipčević at the MBZ residency with defunensemble

"It’s a great opportunity for a young composer to be featured in the program of Music Biennale Zagreb, and an even greater honor to collaborate with an ensemble like defunensemble", emphasizes Lovro. During his stay, Lovro had the chance to work on his composition, explore various soundscapes, and develop ideas for live electronics. "This is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to work on a piece months in advance with an ensemble, which was a new and unique experience. The completed score has now been enriched with various suggestions and insights, and I can happily say it’s almost finished". he adds.

Beyond the work itself, he was also captivated by the city's atmosphere: "Helsinki is beautiful. I explored many places and was amazed by Finnish architecture, the warmth of the people, the food, and the culture. I often mentioned to others how I experienced a positive cultural "shock". Truly, it was an unparalleled experience - at their new central library, Oodi, for instance, there are various studios for painting, photography, and audio recording, as well as computers for audio and video manipulation, and even games like chess and video games. The attention to detail was remarkable, such as the calming, subtle music used as a signal for the audience in the hall, suggesting the continuation of the concert. These are just a few of my personal impressions, but along with the workshop, this was a special journey filled with numerous events and invaluable experiences that I will cherish forever."

Lovro also thanked producer Heidi Kuusava and artistic director Sami Klemola for the opportunity, as well as the defunensemble for their generosity and inspiring collaboration. "With their dedication and enthusiasm, this experience has been invaluable to me", he concludes.