Volim Istru – Music as a Mission
There are artists who build their careers quietly, without noise, yet leave a lasting mark. One of them is Zoran Tomaić – tenor, producer, cultural professional and, as many in Istria would say, a man who has turned art into a calling.
Born on April 7, 1969, in Pula, Tomaić began his musical journey in his hometown, where alongside his regular education he attended the “Ivan Matetić Ronjgov” Music School, studying the accordion. The true turning point came in 1992, when he enrolled in solo singing studies at the “Agostino Steffani” State Conservatory in Castelfranco Veneto. In the class of Maestro Osvaldo Alemanno, collaborator and friend of the legendary Mario Del Monaco, he graduated and later earned his master’s degree as a tenor, mastering the bel canto technique of the renowned Italian vocal tradition.
From Sacred Masterpieces to the Greatest Stages
As a concert singer, he has performed with numerous orchestras, including the Zagreb Philharmonic and the Croatian Radiotelevision Symphony Orchestra, performing a repertoire that ranges from sacred music and opera arias to Neapolitan songs and Croatian traditional melodies. A special place in his work belongs to sacred compositions such as Mozart’s Requiem and Haydn’s Theresienmesse, which he has performed throughout Italy and Croatia.
During his ten-year stay in Italy (1992–2001), he gained valuable experience in organization and cultural management, which would later shape his work in Istria. During the Croatian War of Independence, he organized “Concerts for Peace,” connecting Croatian and Italian audiences through music – at a time when music meant far more than art alone.
“Volim Istru” – A Project That Became a Movement
As a producer of major cultural events, Tomaić has left a strong mark through projects such as “Evviva Milotti” and “Volim Istru.” The latter, in cooperation with Caritas of the Diocese of Poreč and Pula, grew into one of the largest humanitarian initiatives in the region, raising significant funds to support families in need and to equip the General Hospital in Pula.
Today, his engagement extends beyond the stage. Since 2023, he has been working at HRT – HR Radio Pula as an author, editor, and host of the program “Volim Istru,” where every Sunday from 3 to 4 p.m. he welcomes distinguished artists and cultural figures from Croatia and abroad.
Singing as Prayer
In one interview, he expressed a thought that perhaps best describes his relationship with music: “Singing is like prayer, like the presence of God beside the singer.” This sentence is more than a poetic image. It encapsulates his artistic and spiritual journey – from a boy singing in a church choir to a tenor performing in basilicas, cathedrals, and concert halls.
A Meeting That Last
As Katja Restović emphasizes, Zoran Tomaić is not only a singer with a powerful voice, but also a man of deep social responsibility. His work shows that art is not an end in itself – it is a bridge and a way for a community to breathe fully.
Yet every professional story also has its personal side. Restović says their acquaintance has lasted for more than fifteen years. They met at a time when she was working at the Public Open University of Poreč, organizing a classical music festival in the Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč. One day he appeared at a rehearsal – without distance, simply among the musicians.
It was not a meeting between a “great tenor” and an organizer. It was a meeting between two people.
She was immediately struck by his openness. He was sociable, warm, cordial – someone who speaks just as naturally with the audience, colleagues, and the technical crew behind the stage. That first impression never faded. Over the years, they continued to meet through projects, concerts, studios, and conversations.
Their collaboration intensified especially after Tomaić began working at the radio station in Pula. There, in the studio, their encounters gained a new dimension – more intimate and creative. It is rare, Restović concludes, to meet an artist who retains such simplicity and openness. He simply “embraces” you with his warmth.
