Professor Strahinja Sajin, founder of The Shine School of Music, a beloved teacher, musician, and storyteller, passed away peacefully at home on 13 December 2025, surrounded by his family. He was 87 years old.

If it were not for Strahinja, The Shine School of Music would not exist today. His vision, perseverance, and lifelong devotion to music laid the foundation for a legacy that continues to inspire generations of students across continents.

Born in Bosnia and a survivor of World War II, Strahinja began his musical journey at the age of eight in Banja Luka, where he studied clarinet and piano. In a world still recovering from conflict, music became both his refuge and his purpose. At the age of twenty five, driven by a desire to deepen his understanding, he sought out classical guitar studies under Stanko Prek in Zagreb. Stanko Prek was the first classical guitarist in Yugoslavia and a student of Heinrich Albert. Through this lineage, Strahinja inherited a rich tradition rooted in the German classical guitar school, which he carried forward into his teaching philosophy.

Strahinja taught in numerous public schools across Bosnia, Belgrade, and Germany, sharing his knowledge with discipline, generosity, and care. He published pedagogical works, most notably the book The Shine School of Guitar, capturing his musical philosophy, technical principles, and approach to teaching in written form.

In 1988, he opened music schools in Stuttgart, and in 1993, he moved with his family to South Africa, where he founded the first Shine School of Music. These beginnings grew into an international, family run institution. In 2008, Strahinja’s son Milos co founded the Shine School in Barcelona. It was here that Strahinja began sharing his vast knowledge through online lessons and musical workshops. In 2021 he moved permanently to Spain.

A remarkably versatile musician, Strahinja mastered piano, clarinet, guitar, saxophone, drums and the accordion, and at the age of seventy five, he added the violin to his repertoire. His flexibility, curiosity, and humility as a learner remained constant throughout his life.

He was deeply loved by his students, not only for his musical expertise but for his gift as a storyteller. Strahinja wove his personal history into vivid, humorous, and moving tales that captivated listeners and brought them back again and again, for the music and for the stories.

True to his word, Strahinja continued teaching online until the very end, vowing never to stop sharing music. His influence lives on most profoundly through his children, who continue in his footsteps, building upon the musical legacy he so carefully and lovingly created.

We are deeply grateful for the love, memories, and messages shared in honour of Professor Strahinja Sajin. His life was devoted to music, education, and family, and it has been profoundly moving to see how many lives he touched.