Filip Merčep is a renowned Croatian percussionist, widely praised for his versatility and creativity on the music scene. Based in Zagreb and working as a freelance artist for the past 10 years, Filip has developed numerous projects that remain highly active across the European music scene.

His career took off when he became a finalist in the Eurovision Young Musicians competition in 2010, marking his debut on the international stage. Since then, he has garnered several prestigious awards, including the Ivo Vuljević Award for Best Young Musician (2011), the Zagreb Philharmonic Award for Best Young Musician (2015), the Samobor City Award, the Yamaha Scholarship Award for Best Percussionist at the Music Academy in Zagreb, 2nd Prize at the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium, 1st Prize at the Boris Papandopulo Competition in Zagreb, the Dean's Award for exceptional concert activity, the Rector's Award for performances of Croatian percussion concerts, and the Porin Award for Best Classical Music Performance.

Filip graduated in percussion from the Music Academy in Zagreb and further pursued his interest in innovation by studying Live Electronics at the Conservatory in Amsterdam. During his studies, he attended seminars led by Katarzyna Mycka, one of the world’s most eminent marimbists, who was his first marimba role model. This mentorship significantly influenced his development, and today they perform together in the Marimba Quartet across Europe. In addition to performing, Filip is a professor and assistant at the prestigious Katarzyna Mycka Marimba Academy (IKMMA), which will be held in Essen in 2025.

As a member of Sudar Percussion Ensemble, Filip participates in projects that merge acoustic percussion with electronics and multimedia. Notable projects include "OXYGENE," a reinterpretation of Jean-Michel Jarre’s music, and "Traditions," which fuses ethno music with jazz fusion in collaboration with the HRT Big Band and the LADO National Folk Vocal Ensemble. Their latest project features a unique concert program where traditional folk dances from Southeastern Europe are performed in a jazz fusion style, alongside Astor Piazzolla’s iconic Four Seasons.

Beyond performance, Filip is a passionate educator and innovator. His duo, DigitalTwin, co- founded with a colleague, explores the intersection of music, artificial intelligence, and video games. Their interactive exhibition, Videogaming with Art, allows visitors to control video games using musical instruments, making art and music more engaging and accessible for younger audiences.

In his educational activities, Filip often integrates practical aspects of connecting instruments with audiovisual effects, lighting, and other technologies, including real-time games. He is also an active lecturer, having developed an introductory program on electronic music, which he teaches at various cultural and educational institutions. As a masterclass leader and assistant, he has collaborated with institutions like the University of Miami, Humboldt University in California, the Hannover Academy of Music, the Santiago de Chile Academy of Music, the Nuremberg Academy of Music, the Gdańsk Academy of Music, the Lyon Conservatory, and the University of Toronto, where he presents Croatian percussion music and lectures on music programming.

In addition, Filip organizes his own summer marimba seminar in small picturesque town on the coast of Croatia- Tribunj. Through his work, he remains dedicated to promoting Croatian music and inspiring new generations of musicians.