91Èȱ¬

Eighteen year old Jadran was born in Sheffield and began playing the guitar at the age of eight in Manchester.

Currently based in Ski near Oslo in Norway, Jadran is in his final year at Ski 6th Form College studying Natural Sciences. He also attends Barratt Due Music Institute in Oslo where he studies in the Conservatoire Class, a programme for a handful of the best young musicians in Norway.

Jadran has won the Norwegian Youth Music Competition twice, not only in the guitar class but also in the duet class with his brother Emil, who competed in the Keyboard Semi-Final of 91Èȱ¬ Young Musician.

Jadran is intending to move back to the UK in autumn 2008 to continue his music studies at a UK Conservatoire. Apart from music, Jadran likes reading, skiing and playing tennis, football and snooker.

Final Thoughts

How did you feel when you heard you had reached the final?
I was very surprised. I was reasonably satisfied with how I played, but I never really expected to get to the Grand Final when I entered the competition. I just wanted to see how far I could get - although obviously I hoped and still hope, that I can go all the way.

How did your family react?
They were very pleased for me.

How did your music teacher/school react?
They were all delighted too.

How much time have you been playing to be ready for the final and how does this compare with your normal playing?
Mostly I practice around four hours a day. I have not practised any more for the competition than I normally do. If I see that I am not as prepared as I would like to be, I'll practice more, but so far I think it's going OK.

What would you like to do in the short and long term with your music?
Complete my studies at the Royal College of Music which commence this autumn; win the 91Èȱ¬ Young Musician of the Year and do well in other competitions I hope to enter in the next few years. In the long term I hope to be lucky enough to live off playing the guitar - hopefully a mixture of concerts and teaching.

Do you have musical inspirations eg composers or players or friends?
I don't really have any particular inspirations but when I hear of people I know doing well I strive to emulate them. My favourite composer is J. S. Bach.

Do you have favourtite contemporary music/musicians/bands?
Not really. I used to listen to the Beatles and Eagles a lot!

What would you do with the prize money?
Obviously any money I win will come in really handy to help finance my studies and participation in music festivals and competitions.

Do you think younger people enjoy classical music as much as they could?
I think they could enjoy it a lot more if they gave it a chance.

How would you make your friends and other younger people want to come to a concert or listen to classical music?
I guess I would first introduce them to easily accessible and enjoyable classical music. Also it's really important that people discard their misperceptions that classical music is somehow too "intellectual" for them and that classical music loses its snobbish reputation.

Do you have siblings?
Yes, a 17 year old brother.

Is he musical?
He plays the piano to the same standard as I play the guitar and was one of the semi-finalists in the 91Èȱ¬ Young Musician of the Year competition this year in the keyboards section. We attend the same music school in Oslo. As a duet, we have won prizes and held concerts together in music festivals in Norway and elsewhere.

Are your parents or any other family members musical?
They enjoy music, though neither of them are professional musicians.

What are your other main passions in life (acting, film, etc)?
I like tennis, sailing, reading, playing and watching football with my friends as well as playing snooker (albeit not very well!)