Named BRAVA Magazine’s "Women to Watch 2022" and the “Musician of the Year 2018” by the Well-Tempered Ear, Dr. Iva Ugrčić (she/her) is one of the most exciting and adventurous flutists in the international pantheon. Described as “a natural star on her instrument,” Dr. Ugrčić has been featured as a solo artist as well as a chamber and orchestral musician, performing around the world. Iva enjoys a unique and versatile career as a flutist, educator, entrepreneur, and music advocate.
After receiving the prestigious Albert Roussel Scholarship, Iva moved to Paris where she finished her master’s degree. In 2017, Ugrčić completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at University of Wisconsin - Madison as a recipient of a prestigious Paul Collins Wisconsin Distinguished Fellowship. Since then, Iva won the Irving Shain Competition, multiple concerto competitions, and received the James Smith Orchestra Award for excellency and leadership. Additionally, she won the C.R.E.A.T.E. Project Competition at the 46th National Flute Association (NFA) Convention as well as the UW- Madison Arts Business Competition, was awarded First Prize award from The American Prize, Silver Medal at the International Vienna Competition, and was a finalist for the Pro Musicis International Award in NYC.
Since moving to Madison, Iva has performed with the Madison Symphony Orchestra, La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, Beloit Symphony Orchestra, Madison Opera, UW-Madison Wingra Woodwind Faculty Quintet, Sound Out Loud Contemporary Ensemble, Caroga Lake Ensemble, among others, and she recently founded the LunART Chamber Music Collective.
In 2018, Dr. Ugrcic founded LunART, Inc., a nonprofit organization with the mission of celebrating and promoting women’s creativity in the arts. Under her leadership in 2022 alone, LunART received a Silver Lining Award for outstanding creative endeavors and community engagement as well as the Programing Award from the International Alliance for Women in Music.
In addition to her position as the Founder and CEO/Artistic Director of LunART, Dr. Ugrcic currently serves as the Artistic Director of the Rural Musicians Forum, is a member of the Career & Artistic Development Committee of the National Flute Association and holds the position of Board Liaison & Strategy Manager role at Overture Center for the Arts.