Water-mill-written by Nikola Starcevic, performed by Trio Balkan Strings (Zoran Starcevic & sons) First prize winner  in the World music category of the 2005 USA Songwriting Competition

El Colibri-J.Sagreras,performed by Nikola Starcevic-classical guitar teacher and the member of the Trio Balkan Strings

Ante Starčević (May 23, 1823 - February 28, 1896) was a Croatian politician and writer. His diverse activities and works laid the foundations for the modern Croatian state. Starčević was born in Žitnik near Gospić, a small town not far from the Adriatic Sea, in the Austrian ruled Croatia. In 1845, he graduated from the comprehensive secondary school in Zagreb. He started his studies at the seminary in Senj, but moved to Pest in the year of 1845 in order to attend a Roman Catholic theological seminary - which he finished in 1848. After passing a number of philosophy and free sciences classes, he earned a honoris causa degree in the year of 1846.[1] Starčević immediately returned to Croatia and continued studying theology in Senj. When he was supposed to become a priest, however, he decided to engage in secular pursuits and started working in the law firm of Ladislav Šram in Zagreb. He tried to get an academic post with the University of Zagreb, but was unsuccessful, so he remained in Šram's office until 1861. He was also a member of the committee of Matica ilirska, a Croatian cultural society (see Illyrian movement), in the Historical Society and in the editorial board of Neven, a literary magazine. In 1861, he was appointed the chief notary of the Fiume (Rijeka) county. That same year, he was elected to the Croatian Parliament as the representative of Fiume and founded the Croatian Party of Rights with Eugen Kvaternik. Starčević would be reelected to the parliament in 1865, 1871, and from 1878 to his death. In 1862, when Fiume was the scene of protests against Austrian Empire, he was suspended and sentenced to one month in prison as an enemy of the regime. When he was released, Starčević returned to Šram's office, where he remained until 11 October 1871, when he was arrested again, this time on the occasion of the Rakovica Revolt. The revolt was launched by Kvaternik, who was not a Serb hater [2] as his political comrade Starčević and who had become convinced that a political solution as Starčević called for was not possible. While the revolt drew several hundred men, both Croats and Serbs, it was soon crushed by Imperial Austrian troops. The Croatian Party of Rights was abolished. Starčević was released after two months in prison. In his old age, he moved to Starčević House (Starčevićev dom), built for him by the Croatian people in 1895. He died in his house a year later, when he was 73. According to his wish, he was buried in the Church of St Mirko in the Zagreb suburb of Šestine. His bust was made by Ivan Rendić. At his deathbed, he requested that no monuments be raised to his honor, but his statue was put up in front of Starčević House in 1998.

Original World Balkan-Fusion Ethnic Guitar music written by Zoran Starcevic, performed by Trio Balkan Strings (Zoran Starcevic & sons: Nikola and Zeljko)

Original World Balkan-Fusion Ethnic Guitar music written by Nikola Starcevic, performed by Trio Balkan Strings (Zoran Starcevic & sons: Nikola and Zeljko)