Mira Voglar, pioneer of Slovenian early childhood music education, dies at 92

Mira Voglar, a celebrated composer, music educator, and a pioneering figure in early childhood music education in Slovenia, has passed away at the age of 92. Her death was announced by Mladinska knjiga, a publishing house with which she collaborated for decades.

Voglar's extensive creative output significantly shaped Mladinska knjiga's publishing program and touched the lives of countless children, parents, educators, and teachers. Her songs, musical games, and books became an integral part of childhood for many, leaving a lasting legacy in Slovenia.

Among her most beloved works published by Mladinska knjiga are "Biba, Buba, Baja," "Kahlica Bahlica," "Sij, sončece, sij," and "Palček, pomagaj." An anthology titled "Kostanjček, zaspanček," published for her 85th birthday, collected her favorite rhymes and songs for preschoolers, parents, and educators.

Voglar completed her studies in musicology and music pedagogy in 1969 at the Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana, followed by postgraduate studies in music pedagogy at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. She taught music education methodology at the Secondary School for Educators in Ljubljana before becoming a professor at the Faculty of Education in Ljubljana until her retirement. Her work also included musical fairy tales, didactic games, riddles, counting rhymes, radio and television programs, stage music for children's theaters, and songs for children, characterized by simple, cheerful, and playful melodies that resonated with young audiences.

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Njene pesmi, glasbene igre in knjige so postale del otroštva mnogih ter so pustile neizbrisen pečat v slovenskem prostoru.