The statue of Rado Kleč was unveiled on 20 March 2005 on the occasion of the opening of the new premises of the Jesenice Music School in the Barracks at Stara Sava. The statue was created by sculptor Evgen Guštin and ceremonially unveiled by the then Mayor Boris Bregant and the Principal of the Jesenice Music School, Martina Valant, MSc.
Rado Kleč
Rado Kleč was a music educator and long-time principal of the Jesenice Music School. He began his musical career among the tamburitza players of the Sokol Society and later chose the violin as his main instrument. He enrolled at the State Conservatory in Ljubljana, studying violin and piano. As a violinist, he performed with the Sokol Society’s salon orchestra, and due to a shortage of musicians he also played the trumpet, baritone, and bass when needed.
From 1927 to 1941, he served as conductor of the Sokol Wind Band. In addition to the wind orchestra, the Sokol Society also maintained a symphony orchestra. Under the musical direction of Rado Kleč and the stage direction of Prof. Franjo Klavor, several operettas were staged, including Erika, The Bird Catcher, Orpheus in the Underworld, Memorial Plaques, Mam’zelle Nitouche, Long Live Love, All for a Joke, and others.
During the Second World War, he enrolled at the conservatory in Klagenfurt, where he studied the trombone. In the final days of the occupation in 1945, the City Command Band of Bled was formed above the village of Gorje. After a few months, the ensemble continued its work as the Ironworks Band of the DPD Svoboda Tone Čufar Jesenice, which Kleč led until 1954. In October 1968, the Wind Orchestra of the Jesenice Ironworks was founded. Under his leadership until 1975, the orchestra received numerous high and important awards.
In the 1946/47 school year, at the initiative of Rado Kleč, Franc Čelesnik, Lojze Savinšek, and Polde Ulaga, and with the assistance of piano professor Boža Černivčeva, a music course was organized. One year later, by decree of the Ministry of Education and Culture of the People’s Republic of Slovenia, the State Music School in Jesenice was established. At the school, Rado Kleč taught violin, trombone, and accordion. From 1954 to 1963, he served as its principal while continuing his teaching work.
He was active as an organizer and conductor of the accordion, string, and symphony orchestras. In collaboration with a mixed choir, other musicians, and the theatre, several operettas were staged under his musical direction. Due to disagreements over cultural policy programming, he resigned from the position of principal of the Jesenice Music School. The symphony orchestra ceased its activities in 1969, after which only the wind orchestra remained active in Jesenice. In 2015, the symphony orchestra resumed its work in Jesenice within the framework of the Jesenice Music School.
For his contributions, Rado Kleč received the Čufar Plaque, the Gallus Gold Badge, and was awarded the Order of Labour with Silver Wreath.
