Luka Šulić
Encyclopedia
Luka Šulić is a Croatian
Slovenian
cellist.
Šulić was born in Maribor
, Slovenia
. He comes from a Dubrovnik
musical family, his father Božo is also a cellist, and many members of his family are associated with music.
Šulić began his musical education in Maribor
, after which he attended the Music Academy
in Zagreb
in the class of Professor Valter Dešpalj
. He continued his education in Vienna with Professor Reinhard Latzko. Šulić is currently studying with Mats Lidstrom at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
In 2004 Šulić won an award at the 5th International Competition for Young Musicians Tchaikovsky
, followed by first prizes at the International Alpe-Adria in Gorizia in 1999 and 2003, and the National Competition in Ljubljana in 2000 and 2003. He often performs at various concerts at home and abroad. Šulić won the first award of the International Cello Competition "Witold Lutoslawski
" in 2009.
In January 2011, Šulić, along with friend and fellow cellist Stjepan Hauser
, performed a cover of Michael Jackson
's Smooth Criminal
which was played solely on cello
. In just a few days, the music video became a YouTube
sensation
.
Under the name of 2Cellos
, Šulić and Hauser recorded an album with Sony Music Entertainment
, which was released in July 2011.
On April 25, 2011 Šulić and Hauser appeared live in Ellen DeGeneres Show
, on which they performed Smooth Criminal.
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
Slovenian
Slovenians
The Slovenes, Slovene people, Slovenians, or Slovenian people are a South Slavic people primarily associated with Slovenia and the Slovene language.-Population:Most Slovenes today live within the borders of the independent Slovenia...
cellist.
Šulić was born in Maribor
Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. He comes from a Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
musical family, his father Božo is also a cellist, and many members of his family are associated with music.
Šulić began his musical education in Maribor
Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
, after which he attended the Music Academy
Academy of Music, University of Zagreb
The Academy of Music is a Croatian music school based in Zagreb. It is one of the three art academies affiliated with the University of Zagreb, along with the Academy of Dramatic Art and the Academy of Fine Arts....
in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
in the class of Professor Valter Dešpalj
Valter Dešpalj
-Early years:Dešpalj was born in Zadar, Croatia and graduated from the Juilliard School . He also took master classes with P. Casals, P. Fournier and A. Navarra, and did two years of postgraduate study with G...
. He continued his education in Vienna with Professor Reinhard Latzko. Šulić is currently studying with Mats Lidstrom at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
In 2004 Šulić won an award at the 5th International Competition for Young Musicians Tchaikovsky
International Tchaikovsky Competition
The International Tchaikovsky Competition is a classical music competition held every four years in Moscow, Russia for pianists, violinists, and cellists between 16 and 30 years of age, and singers between 19 and 32 years of age...
, followed by first prizes at the International Alpe-Adria in Gorizia in 1999 and 2003, and the National Competition in Ljubljana in 2000 and 2003. He often performs at various concerts at home and abroad. Šulić won the first award of the International Cello Competition "Witold Lutoslawski
Witold Lutoslawski
Witold Lutosławski was one of the major European composers of the 20th century, and one of the preeminent Polish musicians during his last three decades. During his lifetime, Lutosławski earned many international awards and prizes, including the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest...
" in 2009.
In January 2011, Šulić, along with friend and fellow cellist Stjepan Hauser
Stjepan Hauser
- Early life and musical training :Hauser was born in Pula to a musical family, where he began his musical education. He has a sister who is a journalist in Pula. Hauser finished secondary school in Rijeka...
, performed a cover of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's Smooth Criminal
Smooth Criminal
"Smooth Criminal" is the seventh single from Michael Jackson's 1987 Bad album. The song contains a fast-paced beat intertwined with Jackson's lyrics about a woman named Annie, who has been attacked in her apartment by a "smooth" assailant. It was released as a single on October 24, 1988 and peaked...
which was played solely on cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
. In just a few days, the music video became a YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
sensation
Viral video
A viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email...
.
Under the name of 2Cellos
2Cellos
2Cellos is a cello duo consisting of Croatian cellists Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser. Signed to Sony Masterworks since 12 April 2011, the two were discovered after uploading a music video of their cello-only cover of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" to YouTube.-Background:Šulić, born in...
, Šulić and Hauser recorded an album with Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
, which was released in July 2011.
On April 25, 2011 Šulić and Hauser appeared live in Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
, on which they performed Smooth Criminal.