Applications have closed and the performers of the first “Novi 2025” Festival of Klapa Groups with Guitars and Mandolins have been announced

The application period for the first Festival of Klapa Groups with Guitars and Mandolins, Novi 2025, has ended, and the competing groups have been selected. The call for applications was published on the official website of the Novi Vinodolski Cultural Center and closed on March 5. The Festival will be held at the Novi Vinodolski Cultural Center on Saturday, April 26, starting at 7:30 PM.

At the first Festival of Klapa Groups with Guitars and Mandolins “Novi 2025,” two female klapa groups will perform: Klapa Lađarice from Sisak and Klapa Fjoret from Tučepi, along with ten male klapa groups: Klapa Kolapjani from Sisak, Klapa Skalin from Matulji, Klapa sv. Jeronim from Kaštel Gomilica, Klapa More from Šibenik, Klapa Munita from Zadar, Klapa Kontrada from Zadar, Klapa Partenca from Split, Klapa Škrljevo from Škrljevo, Klapa Kala from Crikvenica, and Klapa Baladur from Opatija.

The organizers are delighted with the strong interest and turnout of klapa groups for this first edition, which will surely justify the trust of both the groups and the audience. Tickets for the Festival will be available for pre-sale via the “Moje karte.hr” system as well as at the office of the Novi Vinodolski Tourist Board and at the premises of the Novi Vinodolski Pensioners’ Association, priced at 8.00 euros. Pre-sale begins on March 20. On the day of the Festival, tickets will be sold at the entrance for 12.00 euros.

This festival is further enhanced by the presence of esteemed individuals on the expert jury, which will listen to and evaluate the klapa performances and select a winner. The jury will consist of: Mojmir Čačija, president of the expert jury, and members Ivo Lise, Saša Matovina, and Pavao Kombol.

Mojmir Čačija has been the artistic director of the Omiš Festival of Dalmatian Klapa since 2023 and is also known as the arranger of the song “Mižerja,” which represented Croatia at Eurovision in 2013. He is a producer of klapa singing, a composer, and a music director of Klapa Sinj, and a recipient of numerous domestic and international awards and recognitions.

Ivo Lise is a jury member of the Omiš Festival of Dalmatian Klapa, a violin teacher at a music school, and the conductor of klapa groups, the City Chamber Orchestra, and the choir “Lira” from Vodice. Saša Matovina is a permanent member of the opera choir of the Ivan pl. Zajc Croatian National Theatre in Rijeka and is better known to the public as a member and artistic director of Klapa Kastav, as well as the director of KUD Učka and other choirs, and is one of the organizers of ČAnsonfest. Pavao Kombol taught music for 40 years, worked on melographic research, collaborated with traditional instrumentalists and folk singers, led the klapa group Vinčace, served as the conductor of a mixed choir, and much more. Last year he celebrated 50 years of musical work.

The expert jury will select the best klapa groups in the first edition of the Festival, awarding them gold, silver, and bronze of the 1288 Vinodol Law. The audience will also have a role, as upon entering the festival they will receive a leaflet with the names and performances of the klapa groups and a perforation for voting. Each member of the audience votes for two klapa groups by either tearing off or marking with an X next to the names of their chosen groups. The audience will thus award gold, silver, and bronze of Ban Mažuranić.

While the votes are being tallied, in the festival’s non-competitive segment, the well-known singer-songwriter from Split, Neno Belan, will entertain everyone with his popular hits. The event will be hosted by the well-known duo Joso Krmpotić and Edita Lučić Jelić.

You can look forward to outstanding arrangements, original songs, and a musical guest whose performances, accompanied by the sounds of guitars and mandolins, everyone will enjoy together!