Iva Hraste Sočo
Iva Hraste Sočo, PhD, graduated in singing at the Academy of Music in Zagreb and simultaneously studied Yugoslav languages and literature at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Zagreb, where she also obtained her doctoral degree. She was engaged as a soloist in the Opera of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb as one of the youngest soloists in its history. Besides Croatian opera stages, where she performed 27 soprano roles and appeared in numerous concerts, she also performed internationally.
As a diplomat, she worked as a Cultural Attaché at the Croatian Embassy in Vienna (2005–2009), where she organised more than 100 cultural projects that promoted the highest achievements of Croatian cultural heritage as well as contemporary artistic expressions. Alongside other duties from 2009 to 2019, she worked at the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia as Assistant Minister for international cultural cooperation and the development of culture and art.
She is a university lecturer and teaches at the Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Academy of Music of the University of Zagreb, at the Postgraduate International Programme in Diplomacy at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.
She is a recipient of numerous awards and acknowledgements: the Golden Charter of Hungary, Award Judita for the best musical achievement at the 67th Split Summer Festival, Rector’s Award, First of May Award, Award Marija Borčić, Award Milka Trnina for her appearance in Così fan tutte (W. A. Mozart), first prize at the Yugoslav Competition of Solo Singers in Ljubljana, and she was a finalist of the Luciano Pavarotti International Competition in Modena, Italy. In 2024, she was awarded the Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia for the promotion of friendly relations and cooperation between Italy and Croatia.
She is a member of numerous professional associations and gives presentations at scientific and professional conferences. She also works in production in the field of performing arts and publishes books as well as scientific and expert papers in the fields of theatre, music theatre, sociology of music and cultural policy.
In 2024, she was elected a Board Member of Opera Europa, the largest European association of opera and ballet companies. Since March 2025, she has served as the organisation’s Vice President, becoming the highest-ranking Croatian representative in its history.
She is a member of the jury for the FEDORA Biennale where together with the leading European patron organisations she has been contributing to the development of new opera and ballet projects forming the future of performing arts. She is also a member of the jury for the International Opera Awards.
On 1 September 2022, she was appointed General Manager and Artistic Director of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb. During her current mandate, she has implemented a number of strategic and artistic advancements that have firmly positioned the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb as one of the internationally recognised cultural institutions in Central Europe. She established a diverse and up-to-date repertoire, strengthened artistic ensembles, enhanced international co-productions and collaborations, improved working conditions for theatre employees, and achieved remarkable audience attendance and record subscription sales.
At its 100th session, the Government of the Republic of Croatia decided to reappoint Dr. Iva Hraste Sočo as General Manager and Artistic Director of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb for the term from 2 September 2026 to 2 September 2030, following a public competition and 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 stage HNK2 on 3 November 2025, realised under the leadership of Iva Hraste Sočo, PhD, marked a historic step in the development of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb and the beginning of a dynamic coexistence of two stages presenting the ensembles of the CNT Drama, Opera and Ballet, supported by all technical and administrative departments of the theatre.