Natalie Matovinovic

1922 - 2019

Natalie Matovinovic obituary, 1922-2019, Ann Arbor, MI

Natalie Matovinovic

1922 - 2019

BORN

1922

DIED

2019

Natalie Matovinovic Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers from Apr. 2 to Apr. 7, 2019.
Matovinovic, Natalie 6/14/1922 - 12/6/2018 Ann Arbor, MI Mrs. Natalie Matovinovic passed away on 12/06/2018. Born Natalija Gottlieb on 06/14/1922 in Zagreb, Croatia, she was the daughter of opera singer Anka (Pisacic) Horvat Gottlieb and surgeon Antun Gottlieb, MD. She graduated with an Academic Musician and Concert Artist Diploma from the Croatian State Academy of Music under the tutelage of renowned piano pedagogue Svetislav Stancic who was a student of Karl Heinrich Barth and Ferruccio Busoni. Before emigrating to the U.S. in 1956, she was a tenured piano faculty member at the Croatian Academy of Music and performed with all the major orchestras in Yugoslavia. After originally settling in Boston, Mrs. Matovinovic continued to perform as a soloist (including with the Boston Civic Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Paul Cherkassky) and as a collaborative artist. She moved with her husband, Josip Matovinovic, MD to Ann Arbor in 1959 where she began a career as a piano instructor. Her teaching consistently produced high caliber students including winners of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) national competition and graduates from Juilliard, Peabody and Yale. She was on the faculty of the Interlochen Arts Camp from 1977-1995 and mentored Concerto winners in 17 of her 19 years at the camp. She was named State Teacher of the Year in 1981, and the Ann Arbor Area Piano Teachers Guild honored Mrs. Matovinovic as the 2013 Teacher of the Year; she served as President of MMTA in 1989-1990. Mrs. Matovinovic is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two brothers, and two sisters. She is survived by her nephew, Alexandre Grossmann and her niece, Silba Cunningham - Dunlop and their children; close family friends, the Sissons (Doris, Mark, Matt and Tom); and many adoring former students. Donations in memory of Mrs. Matovinovic can be made to the Josip Matovinovic Endowed Fellowship in Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School.

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Sign Natalie Matovinovic's Guest Book

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January 20, 2022

Marija Rosic posted to the memorial.

January 19, 2022

anonymous posted to the memorial.

December 6, 2020

Someone posted to the memorial.

Marija Rosic

January 20, 2022

Uvek ste bili i biti cete u lepoj uspomeni posebno za mene!
Marija Rosic

anonymous

January 19, 2022

I was lucky enough to be assigned to Mrs. Matovinovic for piano lessons for our first summer at Interlochen in 1977. I studied with her during the next three summers and kept in touch with her after that. She was an amazing, inspirational teacher who had a big impact on me. Because of her, I began to practice the piano at age ten and take it seriously.
Thank you very much, Mrs. Matovinovic.

December 6, 2020

You are remembered, always.

December 6, 2019

It has been one year since Mrs. Matovinovic, our dearest piano teacher left us. She left us with a deep hole that can never be filled.

Mrs. Matovinovic was the only piano teacher to our three children, Vicky, Yanson, and Carey. She had been teaching all of them till she wasn't physically capable to teach. We know that Mrs. Matovinovic loved our oldest daughter but wanted to kick out the other two occasionally, but she kept all of them regardless.

I still remember the first time we met with her. Knowing nothing about her, I asked for references and embarrassed myself badly. She showed me binders piled up to two feet tall, all were the concerts she played. We actually clicked instantaneously before she even pointed the pile to me. Mrs. Matovinovic didn't agree to take Vicky immediately because she wanted to make sure that Vicky really loves piano and has some talent. To her, excellence is not a goal, but a norm. We all try to follow suit.

Mrs. Matovinovic is not the kind of teacher who gives empty praises. She is kind and generous yet harsh and straightforward. One has to work really hard to win her compliments and thus reaches her/his full potential. She is truly a teacher, a teacher who not only teaches piano, but also teaches her students to be better persons.

We will miss her forever.

marija rosic

April 16, 2019

Draga Gospodjo Matovinovic,
Lepe uspomene me podsecaju na Vas i vasu privrzenost kerinima vaseg rodjenja zemlji Hrvatskoj.
Neka Vam je laka zemlja! Pocivajte u miru!

Marija Rosic

April 7, 2019

I am very sorry to hear of your recent loss. May the "God of all Comfort" bring you much peace during this difficult time. 1 Cor. 1:3,4

Kathy

April 3, 2019

Grief can be so hard, but our special memories can help us to cope. May loving words of comfort guide you theough this most difficult time.2Kings 20:5

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Sign Natalie Matovinovic's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

January 20, 2022

Marija Rosic posted to the memorial.

January 19, 2022

anonymous posted to the memorial.

December 6, 2020

Someone posted to the memorial.