„Martin Kutnar is not only musically and techiqually very talented, he has also the talent of being a showman in an elegant and artistic way!”
„Every minute of his contact with audience was extremely powerful and emotional.”
Martin has captivated audiences and critics alike with his musicality, charisma and dynamic performances. His virtuosity and versatility in the classical and contemporary repertoire has transformed the way we hear the instrument.
He was born on 1st November 2000 in Zagreb in a family full of musicians and started playing both the accordion and the cello when he was five years old.
He attended lectures and workshops with a lot of players and teachers. Some of them are V. Semionov, A. Selivanov, I. Krizman, O. Massa, B. Zagoranski, R. Galliano, I. Šverko, A. Skljarov, K. Leben, T. Anzelotti, K. Lazar, D. Hamidulin, G. Tavares, K. Pačko, B. Alić, A. Cleary and Mee-Hae Ryo.
In 18 years of his lifetime he already won over 40 republic and international competition. Some of greatest success on competitions were: 2 years in a row double 1st prize(in cello and accordion category) on HDGPP Republic Competition, 3rd Prize and Special Award on 10th International Cello Competition ‘Antonio Janigro’, Jeunesses Musicales Croatia special award on Imagine Festival, Laureate on Konservatorium Franz Schubert International Music Competition in Wien, Laureate on International Competition Bistrički Zvukolik 2014.-2016., 1st Prize on International competition „Meh fest“ in Belgrade, 5th place on International Competition ‘Città di Castelfidardo’, finalist of Croatian Contest for Eurovision for Young Musicians 2016. and 2018., 2nd place on Croatia got Talent Show, Audience Award on XVII Lions Grand Prix. He is the winner of the reputable First Great Award of the 4th Manhattan International Music Competition.
Martin played with reputable musicians such as Yulia Amerikova, Alexander Selivanov, Gulnora Karimova, Michael Rowalska, Zagreb Soloists, Croatian Television Orchestra, Soloist of Berlin Symphony Orchestra. He has performed at venues including the Berliner Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal, Dolce&Gabanna residence in Milano, Old Zagreb City Hall, Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall, Kylemore Abbey in Ireland, Kvarner Crystal Hall, Hypo centre, Palace Sponza in Dubrovnik, Carnegie Hall Weill Recital Hall in New York.
He had important public performances in Bruxelles, Warsaw, Milano, Berlin, New York, Castelfidardo, Wien and Ireland and has performed on World Accordion Day, Festiwal Chorwacki in Poland, Day of Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall, Pantonale’s PhilHARMONIKA festival in Berlin, Porin Lifetime Achievement Award for Valter Dešpalj with Luka Šulić, European School Headmasters Meeting in Dubrovnik, opening concert at the 6th Croatian Accordion Competition, closing concert with duet ‘Una Sinistra’, IBM Watson SEE Summit, Anupriya Deotale & friends Concert, Tour with HEP Opskrba on Customer Meeting Days, Manhattan Competition Winners’ concert.