The Croatian Composers’ Society (HDS) is the leading professional association bringing together music and lyric authors, composers, musicologists, music writers, and legal entities – copyright holders. Today, HDS includes over 400 regular and associate members and more than 11 000 affiliate members, who embody the creativity and musical diversity of Croatia.
As a prominent artistic organization, HDS plays a key role in shaping the Croatian music scene. With its extensive expertise, creative potential, and connections with international organizations, ensembles, and individuals, HDS actively contributes to the promotion and development of Croatian musical culture at home and abroad. Over the decades, HDS has consistently supported the creative work of its members while striving to preserve the unique characteristics of Croatian musical heritage.
HDS is the initiator and organizer of several prestigious music events that shape Croatia’s musical life and connect it with global trends. Among them, the Music Biennale Zagreb, founded in 1961, stands out as the most significant festival of contemporary music in the region. The Biennale presents innovative works and world-class artistic programs, linking Croatian composers and performers with the global contemporary music scene. Another notable event is the Zagreb Festival, formerly known as Zagrebfest, the oldest festival of popular music in the region. Revamped in 2014, the festival continues the tradition of presenting high-quality popular songs through a modern and appealing format. The Music Panel, held since the early 1960s, annually showcases the best in Croatian musical creativity, gathering composers, musicians, musicologists, and interpreters to analyze and evaluate recent musical works, giving them the attention they deserve. The JazzHR program, encompassing two jazz festivals and a concert series, offers audiences the best of the Croatian jazz scene, occasionally featuring international stars. JazzHR supports the development of jazz music in Croatia, promoting young as well established artists, thereby significantly enriching the local music scene. A special program, Behind the Scenes, also initiated by HDS, is designed to introduce Croatian music to young audiences through a personalized approach. Young people are placed at the center of the music performance process during concerts organized by HDS and its partner institutions, complemented by educational activities and creative workshops. To highlight the creativity and innovative practices of prominent artists from Croatia and abroad and to raise awareness of the importance of authorship and the economic potential of creative products, HDS’s professional service ZAMP, together with the Croatian Copyright Society, organizes the annual MAKK (International Authors’/Creators’ Conference). Since 2013, MAKK has brought together creators and artists, as well as experts from the media, state institutions, associations, marketing, and academia. All these, and many other HDS initiatives, shape the cultural scene in Croatia, providing a platform for Croatian authors, performers, and musical projects to gain recognition not only nationally but also internationally.
HDS also houses the Cantus Ensemble, the only ensemble in Croatia specializing in contemporary art music. Moreover, HDS is a co-founder of Unison, the Croatian Music Alliance, which brings together key music organizations to better coordinate the domestic music industry. Through Unison, HDS participates in organizing awards such as Cesarica, Rock&Off, Elector, and the prestigious Porin, for which HDS is also a co-founder.
HDS is active in publishing, having released hundreds of sheet music collections and recordings that promote contemporary Croatian art music. To further support and popularize Croatian musical creativity, HDS founded Cantus d.o.o. in 2000, a publishing and recording company specializing in contemporary art music.
HDS places particular emphasis on public information and education. The glazba.hr portal, which succeeded the Cantus magazine (1993–2021), serves as a key source of news on the Croatian music scene, while also tracking global music trends and local innovations.
HDS is also a proud member of prestigious international organizations such as CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers), BIEM (Bureau International des Sociétés gérant les droits d’enregistrement et de reproduction mécanique), ISCM (International Society for Contemporary Music) and ECSA (European Comosers and Songwriter Alliance) through which it represents the interests of Croatian authors on the global stage.
