Jelena Očić

Jelena Očić was born in Zagreb, the capital city of Croatia. After completing her musical studies at the Zagreb Music Academy with honors, she entered the class of Michael Flaksman at the University of Music and the Performing Arts (“Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst”) in Mannheim, Germany, where she took postgraduate degrees in cello and chamber music and now teaches. Her studies also included master classes with noted cellists such as Leslie Parnas, Mischa Maisky and Heinrich Schiff, and a personal course of study with Bernard Greenhouse, founding member of the famed Beaux Arts Trio.

Ms. Očić has performed at the prestigious Menuhin Festival in Gstaad, and has been a featured soloist with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Baden-Baden, the Heilbronn Symphony, Arco Festival Orchestra, "Solisti di Zagreb", "Deutsches Kammerorchester", Korean Chamber Ensemble, and the Chamber Orchestra of Padua and the Veneto. In addition, she has participated in television/radio performances throughout Europe. Renowned cellist Siegfried Palm has described Ms. Očić as “one of the most promising talents of her generation.” Her notable interpretations of contemporary music have garnered personal dedications and premiere performances of works by composers Klaus Cornell, Hans-Peter Dott, and Andreas Sorg, among others. She plays a Grancino cello from 1696.

Performers