Iva Hraste Sočo

Iva Hraste Sočo, PhD, graduated in solo singing from the Academy of Music, University of Zagreb, while simultaneously studying Yugoslav languages and literature at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, where she also earned her doctorate. She was a soloist of the Opera of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, among the youngest in its history. In addition to performing on Croatian opera stages—where she interpreted 27 roles of the soprano repertoire—and maintaining an extensive concert career, she also appeared internationally.

As a diplomat, she served as Cultural Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Vienna (2005–2009), where she organised more than one hundred cultural projects promoting the highest achievements of Croatian cultural heritage and contemporary artistic expression. At the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia (2009–2019), alongside other duties, she worked as Assistant Minister for International Cultural Cooperation and for the Development of Culture and the Arts.

She is a university professor, teaching at the Academy of Dramatic Art and the Academy of Music, University of Zagreb, at the Postgraduate International University Programme in Diplomacy, and at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.

She is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including the Golden Charter of Hungary; the “Judita” Award for Best Musical Achievement at the 67th Split Summer Festival; the Rector’s Award; the May Day Award; the “Marija Borčić” Award; the “Milka Trnina” Award for her performance in Così fan tutte by W. A. Mozart; first prize at the Yugoslav Competition for Solo Singers in Ljubljana; and she was also a finalist of the “Luciano Pavarotti” International Competition in Modena (Italy). In 2024, she was decorated with the rank of Cavaliere dell'Ordine della Stella d'Italia for promoting friendly relations and cooperation between Italy and Croatia. In February 2026, she received the Tihomir Premužak Award for Positive Social Impact as part of the Manager of the Year Awards, presented by the Croatian Association of Managers and Entrepreneurs (HUM-CROMA).

She is a member of numerous professional bodies, presents at scientific and professional conferences, works in the field of performing arts production, and publishes books as well as scholarly and professional papers in theatre, music theatre, sociology of music, and cultural policy.

In 2024, she became a Board Member of Opera Europa, the largest European association of opera and ballet companies. Since March 2025, she has served as Vice-President of this leading European platform, becoming the highest-ranked Croatian representative to date.

Also a member of the FEDORA Prizes Biennale jury, she works alongside leading European philanthropic foundations to support the development of new opera and ballet projects. In 2026, she was appointed Chair of the International Jury of the FEDORA Opera Prize 2027, one of Europe’s most prestigious awards dedicated to fostering innovative opera projects and advancing new artistic practices. As Chair, she will lead an international panel of distinguished general directors, theatre directors, and leading European opera experts in selecting projects that will help shape the future of European opera.

She serves on the jury of the International Opera Awards and was a member of the jury for the 11th edition of the Renata Tebaldi International Singing Competition – Opera Section, held in San Marino in September 2026.

Since 1 September 2022, she has served as General Manager and Artistic Director of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb. During her current mandate, she has achieved a series of strategic and artistic advancements that have firmly positioned the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb as one of the internationally recognised cultural institutions of Central Europe. A diverse and contemporary repertoire has been established, artistic ensembles strengthened, international co-productions and collaborations intensified, working conditions improved, and exceptional attendance and record subscription sales achieved.

At its 100th session, the Government of the Republic of Croatia adopted the decision to reappoint Iva Hraste Sočo, PhD, as General Manager and Artistic Director of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb for the period from 2 September 2026 to 2 September 2030. The appointment followed a public competition and was made upon the joint proposal of the Minister of Culture and Media, Nina Obuljen Koržinek, PhD, and the Mayor of the City of Zagreb, Tomislav Tomašević.

The completion and opening of the new HNK2 venue on 3 November 2025, realised under the leadership of General Manager and Artistic Director Iva Hraste Sočo, PhD, represents a historic step forward in the development of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb and marks the beginning of a dynamic coexistence of two stages on which the Drama, Opera and Ballet ensembles perform, supported by the Theatre’s technical and administrative departments.