Bruno Bjelinski

Bruno Bjelinski (born Weiss, changed in the earlier part of his life) was a highly influential Croatian composer. As a child, Bjelinski played the violin and piano. He obtained a doctorate in Law and began composing in the 1930s. His strongest musical influences included Milhaud, Hindemith, Poulenc, and Ravel. He was sent to a concentration camp during World War II, but managed to escape with a friend's help in 1943. After the war, he taught at the Zagreb Academy of Music. Throughout his career, he won several awards -- including the Vladimir Nazor Award for life achievement.​¹