ION DELIĆ
Percussionist • Composer •Educator
"Ion is a very rare type of musician, mastering already not only all the classical percussion instruments, such as marimba, vibraphone, snare drum and multipercussion - but also with a keen ear for the rhythmical genre, improvising with ease on the piano and even composing with a unique voice. All this is, I believe, made possible chiefly by his innate interest in, and love for, music of virtually all kinds, as well as his unusually strong work-ethics and drive. Furthermore, he is of a very kind, helpful and inquisitive nature, and therefore always a pleasure for peers and colleagues to work with."
- Anders Kann Elten
FEATURED COMPOSITIONS
Difficulty: Intermediate
Duration: cca. 2min
This work was commissioned by world-renowned marimbist Anders Kann Elten with the purpose of making the one-hand independence technique more approachable to percussionists worldwide and bridging the gap between beginning students of the approach and their potential wish of tackling advanced keyboard literature, polyphonic or otherwise, as well as enriching the literature for marimba that includes the one-hand independence technique and pushing the limits of the instrument by standardizing this advanced four mallet approach.
Concert Etude on. 1 in E minor is the first part of a cycle of etudes, holding the title Concert Etudes for Modern Marimba, and mainly focuses on the aspect of rotation. The cycle will include etudes that focus on a specific technical "problem" regarding the one-hand independence technique, such as: rotation, doubles, triplets (not triples), and a combination of all of these in the final "all-rounder" etude.
Difficulty: Advanced
Duration: cca. 8min
My first composition for solo marimba, introducing hints of the one-hand independence approach, inspired by Theodor Milkov and Anders Elten.
"Qamari" in arabic means "my moon", a common phrase used to show affection. The story of the piece is emotional turmoil in two lovers who are far far away from each other, and are at night looking at the moon, which is a way of connection and giving them calm, but at the same time bringing a bittersweet feeling, showing them the distance between them is very real.
Teaching
I offer the possibility to teach marimba, vibraphone, all other percussion instruments, musical theory, aural training, and basics of jazz piano,
for beginners as well as advanced students at university level.
I am mostly known for teaching the one-hand independence four mallet technique for marimba, but do all of the aforementioned as well.
Students from: USA, Hong Kong, South Korea, Canada, Germany, Norway, Italy, Poland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, Argentina, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Venezuela, ranging from 14 to 29 years old, from high school to university to fully grown adults.
About Me
I am a percussionist, composer and educator from Slovenia, holding a master degree from The Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, Denmark
I regularly perform solo and chamber concerts, teach workshops, compose commissioned and independent works, and hold online lessons with students from all over the world
Multiple awards from international percussion and marimba competitions, guest artist at the American Percussion Seminar 2025 and at Milkov Marimba Intensive 2026, member of the World Percussion Group Academy 2024…
My mentors, professors, and biggest inspirations have been Anders Kann Elten, Theodor Milkov, Simon Klavzar, Johan Bridger, and Søren Monrad
