Miljenko Prohaska facts for kids

Miljenko Prohaska (born September 17, 1925 – died May 29, 2014) was a famous Croatian composer, who wrote music, and an arranger, who helped put music together. He was also a conductor, leading orchestras. He was best known for starting many important Croatian orchestras. He also spent a long time as the conductor for the Radio Zagreb Dance Orchestra, which is now called the Croatian Radiotelevision Big Band Orchestra.

Miljenko Prohaska's Life Story

Miljenko Prohaska was born in Zagreb, Croatia. He started learning the violin at a music school for children. Later, he studied to become a contrabass player. He finished this part of his studies in 1951.

He then went to the Zagreb Music Academy. He graduated in 1956 from the music teaching department. From the mid-1950s to the late 1980s, Prohaska played the contrabass. He played in many groups, like the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra and the Zagreb Jazz Quartet. He also directed the Zagreb Festival of Popular Music from 1967 to 1969.

In 1989, he stopped playing instruments. He became the conductor of Radio Zagreb's Dance Orchestra. From 1996 to 1998, he led the Croatian Army Big Band. Miljenko Prohaska also conducted orchestras at five Eurovision Song Contests. He performed all over the world. One famous performance was at the 10th Monterey Jazz Festival in 1967. There, he conducted the Don Ellis Orchestra playing his own songs.

Famous jazz expert Leonard Feather included him in a book called The Encyclopedia of Jazz in the Sixties. Also, Willis Conover, a well-known jazz broadcaster from Voice of America, dedicated two of his radio shows to Prohaska and his music.

What Music Did He Make?

Miljenko Prohaska was mostly known for his jazz music. But he also wrote many pieces for symphony orchestras. He created music arrangements for popular Croatian singers. These included Josipa Lisac, Gabi Novak, and Arsen Dedić.

Some of his music was first played in famous places. These included the Carnegie Hall in New York City and in Paris. His works were performed by groups like the Modern Jazz Quartet and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. He also wrote music for television shows and plays. He composed for animated films, ballets, and choirs. He even scored fifteen Croatian feature films.

Later in his career, he worked with various groups. These included the Zagreb Saxophone Quartet and the Zagreb Soloists. He also worked with the Croatian Radiotelevision's Symphony Orchestra and their Big Band.

Prohaska was a member of the Croatian Composers' Society for a long time. He was even its president twice. He won many awards for his work. These include the Golden Arena for Best Film Music in 1968. He also received the Vladimir Nazor Award for Life Achievement in 1988. In 1995, he won the Porin Award for Life Achievement.