About Luka

    Luka Vezmar (b. 2004) is a composer, oboist, and accordionist who is driven by a strong belief that music can shape a narrative. Whether he's writing for orchestra, chamber ensemble, film, or the concert stage, Luka's goal is always the same: to tell a story or convey emotions that leaves an impact. Could be a sense of inspiration, a shift in perspective, or a drive to make the world a little better. 

 

    Luka completed his Bachelor of Music at the University of Colorado Boulder with a dual degree in Oboe Performance and Composition, where he studied oboe with Peter Cooper (Principal Oboist of the Colorado Symphony) and composition with Carter Pann and Annika Socolofsky. He is currently pursuing his Master of Music in Composition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, studying with Jake Heggie. In his final year at CU, he was honored with 3 awards. The Undergraduate Composition Award, for his work: The Mountains Over Hohenwerfen, a string quartet premiered by the Koa String Quartet. The Wind Ensemble Commission award, for his work Karma’s a B*tch, premiered by the CU Graduate Saxophone Octet. Finally, the Outstanding Senior Award from the College of Music faculty.

 

    His compositional output is as varied as it is prolific. His works span chamber music, orchestral writing, film scoring, opera, and works for solo instruments, and have been performed across the United States and Europe. His piece Karma's a B*tch! was premiered by the CU Boulder Graduate Saxophone Octet at the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference at the Ohio State University. His orchestral piece 100 Days 100 Nights was recorded in Vienna, Austria at the Synchron Stage. His mini-opera I Wanted to Tell You was premiered at CU's New Opera Workshop in July 2026. He has been commissioned by many institutions and individuals around Colorado including the Parlando School of Musical Arts, Platt Middle School, Chase the Music and the Northern Colorado Concert Band, The CU Wind Symphony, Dr. Nathan Mertens, and 2nd violinist of the Takacs Quartet Harumi Rhodes. 

 

    Luka is inspired by many genres of music, from classical symphonies, to modern chamber repertoire, from film music, to balkan folk tunes. He never wants to be put into a box, Luka believes that exploration, curiosity, and versatility is what drives his writing. In the Fall of 2024, Luka premiered his chamber winds piece, Colors of Croatia, with the CU Wind Symphony. This piece journeys through Croatia in three movements, and is inspired by balkan folk music from Croatia and neighboring regions. His piece, What’s the Matter? for reed quintet explores multiple genres like jazz, like blues, and ragtime. 

 

    Film music has become a cornerstone in Luka's musical journey. He has participated in some of the most intensive film scoring programs in the world, including recording sessions with the RTVE Orchestra in Madrid, the European Recording Orchestra in Bulgaria, and a session at the Synchron Stage in Vienna. He spent three days at Warner Brothers' Eastwood Recording Stage in Los Angeles through the LAFCI Studio Recording Intensive, and studied orchestration with master orchestrator Conrad Pope through the Hollywood Music Workshop. He also scored 2 student films, To Be Drawn (directed by Aaron Ritter) and The Case Crackers (directed by Aidelis Colombany). The latter went on to receive numerous awards. He believes his film music training, coupled with his classical background allows him to span many genres. 

 

    Alongside his accolades in composing, he founded a wind quintet. The Bar Before Quintet placed third at the 2026 MTNA National Chamber Music Competition and reached the semifinals of the Coltman National Chamber Music Competition. He attributes much of his growth as a musician to the quintet and the musicians he grew alongside of.