Mateo Granić was born in the southern Croatian city of Vrgorac "Summit of the mount". His musical education began at the age of 9. During the extension of the Croatian Homeland War, he served as a teenager, voluntarily in the first Police Orchestra of Republic Croatia.
"When the bombs fell over Dalmatia, we played nonstop--we worked, consoled, and served."
-Mateo Granić
He attended a music academy in Lovran, Istrien under the patronage of Ivo Pogorelich, where he studied classical saxophone, music theory and composition. His university studies of classical saxophone proceeded at the University for Music in the Arts in Graz, at the University of Vienna, and finally at the University of the Performing Arts in Berlin as a DAAD scholar. He completed two Magister diplomas and graduated with honors in Vienna, and also completed a further graduate specialization degree in musical performance training as a soloist (Konzertexamen) in Berlin.
"(...) Mateo is an excellent saxophonist and he finished his studies at our university "summa cum laude". He always impressed me very much with his playing, which combines perfect technique and virtuosity with natural musicality and secure feeling for style. (...) I know Magister Mateo Granić as a reliable and amiable person (...)"
-Univ.Prof. Heinz Medjimorec Institute leader for keyboard instruments at the University of Music and Performing Art in Vienna; member of the TRIO HAYDN VIENNA
He attended master courses among the most important saxophonists of the day: J.M. Londeix, E. Rousseau, Jerry Bergonzi and others. His performances extend all over Croatia and abroad including: Vienna, Graz, Linz, Berlin, New York, Beijing, and beyond. Tours have been in France, Norway, and China. He plays a 24 carat gold refined saxophone, which is custom-designed to his performance style. Mateo is the recipient of an array of prizes and honors in music.
