8:00
8:00 Church of the Holy Trinity, Negotin
Divine Liturgy
Choir of the Church of the Holy Trinity
Conductor: Svetlana Kravcenko
Svetlana Kravchenko, born in Ukraine, acquired her musical education in Moscow, at the State Academy Gnessin where she graduated from the departments for accordion (Professor Jurij Drangi and Vladimir Dolgopolov) and conducting (class of Professor Sergei Violin). After graduating, she worked for seven years in Kiev in Art school for gifted children, and since 1995 she has lived in Negotin and worked as a professor at the Music School Stevan Mokranjac. Her pupils won numerous awards at various music competitions, and 16 of her students continued their studies at the Music faculties in the country and abroad. Several times she participated in the work of the jury at the regional, national and international competitions and festivals. At the invitation of the Russian Embassy in Serbia, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, she was a participant in the Festival With Russia in the heart, that was held in October 2012 in Moscow. She attended the numerous seminars with leading lecturers (Friedrich Lips, Jacques Morne, Elsbeth Moser, Yuri Shishkin), and several times she herself was a lecturer for students and teachers of the Timok region.
The Church Choir of the Holy Trinity Temple in Negotin was founded in 1991. The first conductor was Stojna Gligorijević, and most of the choir members were the students of Negotin Grammar school. After her, the choir leader was Lana Dimitrijevic. The choir has performed with success in Timisoara (Romania), Vidin (Bulgaria), Belgrade, and in 2006 at the International Festival Golden Fairy in Prijedor (Serb Republic) the choir was awarded for the best performance of sacred music. Since 2008, the conductor has been Svetlana Kravchenko, and the choir is made up of people of different professions, united by faith and love of singing spiritual music. In addition to regular participation in church services, this chamber choir greatly contributes to the cultural life of the city of Negotin. In the 45th The Days of Mokranjac (2010) the choir performed during the book promotion Tabs – a hidden world of silence and sound in the novels of Thomas Man and Herman Hesse (Slobodan Lazarevic,PhD, Aleksandar Duric and Branka Radović, PhD), and a year later the festival audience had the opportunity to attend a full-length concert of spiritual compositions by Serbian, Russian and Bulgarian authors in the Church of the Holy Trinity in Negotin, which was highly rated by the artistic committee and accompanied by excellent comments of eminent professors and critics. Great honor for the choir was the opportunity to sing at the ancient Roman site of Felix Romuliana on May 1st 2011, when the Liturgy was served by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej on occasion of the scientific meeting on the Christian heritage of Romuliana (regarding the 1,700 anniversary of the Edict of Milan). In April 2012, the choir performed on a concert for Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Aleksandar II and Katherine who were visiting Negotin. In 49th Days of Mokranjac, the choir participated in the program of choirs singing competition and won the III place. On September 28th, 2014, the day of the centenary of the death of Stevan St. Mokranjac choir was invited to participate in the Divine Liturgy in the temple of St. Sava in Belgrade, after which the choir was awarded for preservation of Serbian church singing and large opus of our best composer. In May 2015, in the Great Hall of the Ilija M. Kolarac Foundation in Belgrade, the Choir performed in the composer’s Vojna Nesic concert, where they premiered parts of her Divine Liturgy of St. Apostle James.
11:00
11:00 Town Square
Concert: Classical music at 11
Belgrade Faculty of Music’s Students
Faculty of Music, University of Arts in Belgrade is marking 79 years since its establishment in 2016. As the oldest higher education institution in the field of music pedagogy, is credited with laying the foundations of overall development of the system of musical education in Serbia. Today, with 1,044 students and nearly 200 teachers it is the largest in the region and their programs of study cover all specialties in the field of music.
Studies are oriented towards training of professional musicians-performers and music educators, but also include the composition, musicology, ethnomusicology, combining the fields of art and social humanistic science. Teaching at undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Music is organized into sixteen study programs: Composition, Conducting, Solo Singing, Piano, String instruments (violin, viola, cello, double bass), Wind instruments (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn , trumpet, trombone and tuba), musicology, music pedagogy, music theory, ethnomusicology, five study programs within Poly-instrumental section (harpsichord, harp, organ, guitar, percussion), and Jazz and popular music. The course consists of 26 study programs and it is organized at all levels of study: undergraduate, graduate and doctorate in the fields of arts and social sciences and humanities, and in the fields of music and performing arts, and the science of art. The most prominent Serbian artists are among the teachers. Their best students will present the program of The Days of Mokranjac – Classical music at 11. Joining the European practice of holding concerts in the open, they will present their skills, talent and irreplaceable energy of youth. We invite you to confirm the power of music to which they devoted their lives and visit their concerts in the central square in Negotin.
13:00
13:00 Church of the Holy Trinity, Mokranje
Concert: Choir St. Stefan of Decani, Novi Sad
Conductor: Tamara Adamov Petijevic
St Stephen of Dechani Choir, founded in 1987 as the youth cathedral choir in Novi Sad, this ensemble of young professional and experienced amateur musicians has sung regularly at services in the Orthodox churches for almost 30 years, continuing this way the rich and long tradition of Serbian choral societies in the region. Its achievements are recognizable both in the artistic and educational-missionary field.
Today, the St Stephen of Dechani Choir is recognized as one of the best ensembles in Serbia that specialize in sacred music, with a varied repertoire and a unique sensibility for choral sound. Its members have a modern and fresh, yet authentic, understanding and interpretation of sacred music, while insisting on traditional values to preserve their national musical heritage.
Close co-operation with choirs and conductors throughout the world and performing concerts in many European countries, as well as the membership in Europa Cantat association, have inspired members of the St Stephen of Dechani Choir to introduce a variety of choral music to the repertoire and to sing in various languages.
The choir was awarded Second prize at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod festival, Wales (2000) and Fourth position at the same competition (2002); Diploma Ambassadors of Good Will at Zimriya 2007 Festival in Jerusalem. Third Prize at Hajnowka International Competition of Orthodox Church Music in Bjalistok, Poland for the female choir (2016).
The choir performed at numerous concerts and festivals throughout Europe, in Russia and Israel.
It appeared twice at the Days of Mokranjac Festival in Negotin: in 2002 on a concert and 2005 at competition.
The conductor of the choir is Tamara Adamov Petijević.
Tamara Adamov Petijevic is a conductor, violin player and teacher, a researcher in the field of choral music. She conducts an Orthodox church choir St Stephen of Dechani, the IsidorBajic Music School mixed and female choir and a professional vocal-instrumental oratorio studio Orfelin. She graduated at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, Serbia, while also studying the English language and literature at the Faculty of Philosophy there. Then started choral conducting as an experienced orchestra and chamber musician and developed her skills through master-classes and work with European experts in choral music.Now is enrolled at the PhD studies in conducting at the Music Academy in Belgrade. From 2011 to 2013 she conducted the boys’ choir of the Karlovci Seminary of the Serbian Orthodox church as the first woman-conductor and teacher in the history of that institution. Her choirs won several prizes at national and international choral competitions and festivals. She was awarded the Best Conductor Performance at YoungPrague 2006 competition, the title Ambassador of Good Will at Zimriya Festival in Jerusalem 2007 and several high national prizes for her pedagogical work. Today her choir St Stephen of Dechani is recognised as one of the best ensembles in Serbia that specialise in sacred music, with a varied repertoire and a unique sensibility for choral sound. The choir sings regularly at church services and performed at concerts in almost all European countries, Russia and Israel. Tamara Adamov Petijevic’s musicological research work in Orthodox church music resulted in numerous projects, such as editing and publishing the oldest manuscripts of the Serbian Octoechos (by Kornelije Stankovic) and the music collection Serbian Christmas .With her choirs she published many CDs, among them Serbian Christmas and Holy Week and Easter, which brought to public more than 50 songs from the rich Serbian music heritage. Recordings have been made for the Serbian, Hungarian, Welsh, Austrian, Italian, German and Russian national Radio and TV companies. She was a presenter and conductor at Choral Workshops for liturgical and choral music in USA and Canada – Chicago and Toronto 2011-2012, Torino, Italy (2012) and Pecs , Hungary (2015). She is a member of Regional Artistic Committee of Europa Cantat association and was a member of the international jury for the European Award for Choral Composition 2014.
14:00
14:00 Church of the Holy Trinity courtyard, Mokranje
Threads of tradition
– CAS Mokranjac, Mokranje
– CAS Banjica, Krivelj
– CAS Jovica Jankovic – Turku, Manastirica
Cultural Artistic Society Mokranjac from Mokranje officially resumed its activities at the beginning of 2010, after a 19-year break. Currently, this society has 50 active members half of which are participants of the Children’s Ensemble. Folklore ensembles, accompanied by a folk music orchestra mainly dance old “circle” dances, which were once danced in Morkranje. Since the reactivation, the group has taken part in various manifestations of the traditional folk art: Village Encounters of the Negotin region (winner in 2011), Krajinski Obicaji (The Customs of Krajina) in Stubik, and as a representative of Negotin municipality at various reviews: Prodjoh Levac, prodjoh Sumadiju in Kalenic, and Motifs of Homolje, in Kucevo…
Cultural and artistic amateurism in Krivelj dates back to 1938, but the existence of the elementary school, National Library, and the construction of a church in the second half of the nineteenth century, point to the possibility of the existence of the earlier cultural – artistic creativity in this town. The beginning of the Cultural Artistic Society Banjica from Krivelj is linked to the operation of Hawk Troops. The society has changed the name in the next period for several times (KUD Krivelj, KUD Dragi Simonović), and since 2011, it has been performing under the current name – the river which springs at the foot of the mountain Veliki Krš, the place which was a picnic place for people from Krivelj before and after World War II. The Society has during many years of work fostered the authenticity of the Vlach culture in areas of musical creativity, folklore and dramatic artistic expression. During the decades of work CAS was a regular participant (and multiple winner) in traditional events Villages Encountes of Bor Municipality. The last in the series of success was winning the first place in this year’s event. The society also achieved significant results in the municipal, regional and national competitions, as well as in many festivals of national creativity in the country and abroad.
Cultural Artistic Society Jovica Janković-Turku from Manastirica near Petrovac na Mlavi, is named after a famous violinist and composer from our region. The association, which now has approximately 60 members of all ages, has existed since 1976, but after a long break again activated in 2006. Since then it has achieved numerous successes and won many awards, including the award at this year’s Festival Omoljanca in Ceremosnja for the most authentic performance.
19:00
19:00 Church of the Holy Trinity, Negotin
The Church Choral Society Branko, Nis
Conductor: SarЊa Cincarevic
Mrs. Sara Cincarevic was born in Prizren into a clerical family. She acquired her basic musical education in the same city. She finished the secondary music school Mokranjac in 1983 in Belgrade. Her further education was not related to music. She conducted the children’s choir in Djakovica and the younger generation of the First Belgrade Choral Society. She has been the conductor of the Church Choral Society Branko since 1990. With this choir she has performed and participated in many festivals and concerts in more than 25 different countries. After the choir was awarded Grand Prix in Hajnowka’s Church Music Days in Poland, she became a permanent member of the jury of this festival. She has been a coach of the International Festival of Sacred Choral Music Music Edict in Nis, since its establishment in 2009. She is a member of the Council of International choral celebrations in Nis.
The Church Choral Society Branko was founded on September 1st, 1887 as the choir of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in the city of Nis. The choir was named after the famous poet of Serbian Romanticism, Branko Radicevic. For the last 129 years, the choir has been co-serving incessantly with the Bishops and clergy of the Cathedral in Nis. From the long and tumultuous history that Choir Branko has had we must especially highlight the choir’s performances, which promoted the gloriousness of Serbian choral music, all over the Balkans between two World Wars. During the same period, the choir became the holder of the Ordain of St. Sava in the 3rd degree and they were also awarded the Ducats of King Alexander Karadjordjevic and the Societal Flag of King Peter II Karadjordjevic. After the II World War, Choir Branko shared the same fate as the Serbian Orthodox Church as it stood on the outskirts of social life for more than 40 years, but never stopping to serve its primary purpose – singing in church services. Although the Choir has made no pauses and has sung in continuance since their founding till today, it’s revitalization came about in the 1990’s. In the last 25 years the choir has performed in Germany, Greece, Italy, Austria, Belorussia, Ukraine, Russia, Slovenia, Republic of Serbia, Great Britain, Luxemburg, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, the USA, Canada and Israel. They have participated in many international festivals and have received many awards: International Festival of Orthodox Chanting, Minsk, Belorussia (Grand Prix), Hajnowka’s Church Music Days, Hajnowka, Poland (Grand Prix), The Days of Mokranjac, Negotin, Serbia (1st place). Choir also represented their Serbian spiritual music at the Multicultural Festivals in Rothenberg and Marktoberdorf, Germany. Choir has had the blessing to sing at the enthronements of two Serbian Patriarchs in Peć – one of which was Patriarch Paul and the other being the current Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, his Holiness Patriarch Irinej.
Since 2009, the Church Choral Society Branko has been the organizer of the international festival of spiritual music – the Music Edict festival in Nis. Choir has twice been the guest of the Chapel Choir Glinka and its celebrated conductor Vladislav Cernusenko; the last time being in April of 2012 when choir held an evening concert in Glinka’s chapel. As part of the celebration of the jubilee of 1700 years of the Edict of Milan, Choir Branko sang at the solemn liturgy in Nis on the 6th of October 2013, in which the four Orthodox Patriarchs and representatives of all other Orthodox Churches served.
The choir also holds the Ordain of St. Sava of the 2nd degree, the Ordain of St. Ap. Paul, given in name of the Greek Orthodox Church, and the Ordain of St. Emperor Constantine.
20:30
20:30 Cultural Centre
Belgrade Dixieland Orchestra
Dance ensemble:
The Dixie Dance Show, Belgrade
* Concert empowered by Delegation of European Union
Carnival Mississippi is an educational – artistic spectacle, performed by an eight-member Belgrade Dixieland Orchestra. The libretto represents an imaginary cruise on a steam boat, where, as in the good old days, with a nice, and nowadays forgotten cheerful and optimistic atmosphere, exquisite, the oldest, most commercial and popular compositions from the beginning of the 20th century are performed, at the time written as dance music. All of them are carefully connected by educational and attractive textual connective tissue, which refers to the historical, ethno-musical and musicological information, interesting facts and details from the era of the emergence of modern popular music. This libretto easily converts theatre scene in the conning tower, a theatre in the deck of the famous river steamer with popular large drive wheels sideways.
The spectacle Carnival Mississippi is designed so that, in addition to members of the orchestra, includes 12-membered dance ensemble The Dixie Dance Show from Belgrade. These dancers, wearing the exquisite costumes of the era, dance the most attractive agile dances from the early 20th century such as the Charleston, cake walk, black bottom, foxtrot, quick step and slow fox.
The libretto of this musical performance offers very rare educational information on the history of jazz, and the audience is able to learn that the former musical styles have influenced the emergence of jazz music (blues, ragtime, gospel, marching music, work songs), that classical music is influenced by the emergence of this music genre and historical factors that have prompted its creation; how the first ever recorded jazz composition sounds, which are instruments used at the beginning of a new musical era and who are the main representatives of the world of jazz musicians. You will also learn what is improvisation in music, how to listen and monitor jazz music and jazz concert, as well as a number of interesting facts from the history of this musical style.
The Belgrade Dixieland Orchestra, consisted of eight members, was founded in 2001, and is the only orchestra in the Balkans which is continually engaged in art performance of musical style Dixieland Jazz and as such, for the past 15 years represents a unique artistic treasure of our country. So far, they have published six compact discs, the first 3 of which for PGP RTS, a leading Serbian label, and three for the European market (B.M.W. records GMbH): The Belgrade Dixieland Orchestra (2004), Moon Over Bourbon Street (2006), Jazz Museum (2008), What a Dixie We have and Gospel (2010), National Treasure (2012) and All that Jass (2015). The orchestra has performed over 300 solo concerts at home and abroad and also participated in many international jazz festivals. They are the only jazz band in the country, whose concert program has emphasized educational function.