35th Christmas MuK (Music in Clinics) - the 18th of December, 2024

On Wednesday, December 18, 2024, the Tumor Clinic of the Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center hosted a special Advent event dedicated to patients battling malignant diseases, as well as all staff members of the institution. This event, which brought together patients, doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, non-medical staff, other employees, and visitors, held special significance as it brought the holiday spirit into a space marked by the daily fight against severe illnesses.

The program began with an Art Workshop in the premises of the League Against Cancer and Institute for Gastroenterological Tumors (IGET) led by Lea Ješovnik and Adrijana Brkić from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, followed by a Music Workshop led by Brigita Vilč from the Zagreb Academy of Music. These workshops were open to all interested participants, aiming to encourage creative expression, strengthen positive emotional responses, and foster connection and community.

The central event of the Advent program at the University Hospital for Tumors was a performance by the "Lege Artis" choir, the mixed choir of the University of Zagreb School of Medicine. Their performance created a unique holiday atmosphere in the atrium. The choir members, future doctors, dedicated their musical repertoire to the patients they may one day treat themselves—providing a holistic approach to care that also addresses the psycho-emotional aspects of individuals.

The Advent program at the University Hospital for Tumors also featured a vibrant exhibition of artwork by Milan Trenc, displayed in the Panacea Gallery, as well as refreshments prepared by the Food Technology School.

Lege artis

Program:

1. Joy to the World

2. O, pastiri, vjerni čuvari

3. U to vrijeme godišta

4. Noel Nouvelet

5. Como busca el tierno infante

6. My Funny Valentine

7. Ozdravi mi ti

8. Veselje ti navješćujem

9. Božić dolazi

10. Snowman

*arr. Iva Jarić Bremec (except 1, 2 i 8)

Biography:

The Student Choir of the School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, "Lege Artis," was founded in 2010 thanks to the enthusiasm of a group of medical students and their first conductor and artistic director, Dr. Marko Bergovec. In 2014, academic musician Iva Jarić Bremec took over as conductor, continuing the tradition of arranging popular polyphonic compositions exclusively for "Lege Artis." Under her leadership, the choir has steadily grown to around 60 active members annually, affectionately nicknamed "legići."

The uniqueness of this mixed choir lies in the fact that its members and leaders are medical students who actively participate in numerous faculty and university events. For their excellence and dedication, they have been awarded two Dean’s Awards, a Rector’s Award, and achieved second place with a silver diploma at the Zagreb Music Festival in 2016.

In the performance history of "Lege Artis," traditional events include appearances at ceremonies for the School of Medicine’s anniversary, medical and student congresses, the opening of the Science Festival at the Technical Museum, and participation in the Choir Review at the Croatian Music Institute. Additionally, the choir organizes annual Christmas and (spring) concerts as the culmination of the two parts of their singing season, which are often of a charitable nature.

Among their other activities and collaborations, highlights include the humanitarian concert "Singing for Gunja" with the Zagreb Doctors’ Choir, anniversary concerts for the choir’s 5th and 10th anniversaries, a performance at the centennial celebration of the School of Medicine, and collaborations with the Croatian Medical Chamber Big Band and physician musicians.

In 2023 and 2024, the choir ventured into classical music, collaborating with the Chamber Orchestra of the University of Zagreb (artistic director: Prof. Jože Haluza) during the 32nd and 33rd Ceremonies of the Passion Heritage Festival. Their focus on classical repertoire is also evident through their participation in the international choral festival C.H.O.I.R. in Ochsenhausen, Germany, where "Lege Artis" has represented Croatia for three consecutive years.

The choir’s mentor is Prof. Dr. Sanja Dolanski Babić, and the current president is Vita Guljaš.