Niš, Serbia
“Branko” Children’s Choir
- Conductor Jovana Mikić
- First evening 31 May 2015
- Festival Music Edict 2015
A description of this choir will be added.
Home Music Edict 2015
IV International Festival of Sacred Choral Music
Music Edict 2015
The fourth gathering of choirs in Niš
- 11ensembles
- 5countries
- 3concert evenings
Fourth festival
The fourth gathering of choirs in Niš
The IV International Festival of Sacred Music “Music Edict” was held in Niš from 31 May to 3 June 2015, with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Jovan of Niš and under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and Information and the City of Niš. The festival director was Vojkan Mitrović and the selector was conductor Sara Cincarević.
The festival began with a Hierarchal Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral and a festive procession of all the ensembles, and was formally opened on 31 May in the hall of the St Sava Centre. Over three concert evenings, eleven ensembles from Serbia, Slovenia, Romania, Russia and Mount Athos performed. On the second day the DVD of the Choral Society “Branko”, “With Music and Images, Serbia Before the World”, was presented, introduced by Academician Dimitrije Stefanović, and on 2 June a round table was held on “The composer’s challenges in creating contemporary sacred music for services”. The festival closed on 3 June with a Hierarchal Divine Liturgy in the Church of Sts Constantine and Helen.
Programme
Festival evenings
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Participants
Festival choirs
Select a choir for its story, conductor and programme.
Gallery
Moments from the festival
Belgrade, Serbia
“Beli anđeo” Vocal Ensemble
- Conductor Katarina Božić
- First evening 31 May 2015
- Festival Music Edict 2015
The “Beli anđeo” vocal ensemble was founded in 2013 with the blessing of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej. It was formed in the year of the great jubilee of 1700 years of the Edict of Milan, ahead of the year dedicated to our best-known composer, St. St. Mokranjac. Preserving Serbian sacred music and tradition is one of the main reasons for forming the ensemble, as is promoting our contemporary composers. Its repertoire includes works by Serbian authors from the 15th to the 21st century. Its notable performances include the Belgrade Summer Festival, the International Choir Festival (Niš), the opening of the choir festival “11th Encounters of Choral Music” in Banja Luka, the closing of the “Pentecost Celebrations” at Kalemegdan and a concert of the RTS Choir (Synagogue, Novi Sad). In 2014, at the jubilee 20th “Choirs among Frescoes” festival, the ensemble won the first “Vojislav Ilić” prize in the vocal ensembles category, and it received a special charter for its successful performance at the opening of the 25th International Choir Festival in Niš. Since its founding, its artistic director and soloist has been Katarina Božić.
Conductor
Katarina Božić
Katarina Božić was born in 1990 in Niš. She began her music education in 1995 at the “Stevan Hristić” music school in Kruševac. She completed undergraduate and master’s studies at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade in the class of Maestro Prof. Bojan Suđić and attended choral conducting courses with eminent conductors Prof. Gennady Dmitryak and Prof. Igor Matyukhov. She has performed with various ensembles: the RTS Symphony Orchestra, the “Sinfonietta” Chamber Orchestra (Belgrade) and the orchestra of the “Stevan St. Mokranjac” Secondary Music School (Kraljevo). With choirs she has won several first and special prizes in Serbia and abroad (Belarus, Poland, Bijeljina, Niš). Since 2011 she has been a vocal soloist of the “Flauto dolce” ensemble, and in 2013 she founded the “Beli anđeo” ensemble, of which she is artistic director and soloist. In 2014 she achieved notable results: an award as a conductor for research work and the best performance of contemporary Serbian composers, and at the International Choir Festival in Niš the award for the best performance of a free-choice composition (“St Prince Lazar” church choir) and the award for the most promising young conductor.
Programme
- O Heavenly King, Stevan St. Mokranjac (1856-1914)
- We sing to Thee, Kornelije Stanković (1831-1866)
- Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Kosta Manojlović (1890-1949)
- Sticheron to St Sava, Hilandar neumatic manuscript, 18th century
- Magnification to St Simeon, from the “General Chant”, Stevan St. Mokranjac (1856-1914)
- Troparion of Pentecost “Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God”
Belgrade, Serbia
Collegium Musicum Academic Choir
- Conductor Dragana Jovanović
- First evening 31 May 2015
- Festival Music Edict 2015
The Collegium Musicum Academic Choir, made up of female students of the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, was founded in 1971 on the initiative of Professor Vojislav Ilić. Since its founding the choir has been conducted by Darinka Matić Marović, professor emeritus in the Department of Conducting of the Faculty of Music. One of the most eminent choirs in Serbia, Collegium Musicum has given more than 3000 concerts throughout the country and the world and has taken part in prestigious festivals abroad. It has made permanent recordings for Radio Television of Serbia, Norwegian National Radio, RAI (Italy), RTV Mexico and many others. Its repertoire covers works from different stylistic periods, from early music to contemporary works, and many composers have been inspired by its high professional level and creativity, so that it has given more than 200 premieres. The choir has been the absolute winner at the following competitions and festivals: Arezzo, Italy (1971); the international competition in Llangollen, United Kingdom (1973); the BBC award, London (1973); the World Festival of Youth and Students in East Berlin (1973); the international festival in Gorizia, Italy (1980); the international competition in Torrevieja, Spain (1998); the 6th Choral Music Competition in Preveza, Greece (2000); the 48th Choral Competition in Cork, Ireland (2002); the 6th International Choral Festival in Beijing, China (2002); the 29th International Festival of Orthodox Sacred Music in Białystok and Hajnówka, Poland (2010); and the International Choir Festival in New York, USA (2013). At the competitions in Torrevieja, Beijing and Hajnówka the ensemble also won awards for the best conductor.
Conductor
Dragana Jovanović
Dragana Jovanović completed her undergraduate and master’s studies in the Department of Conducting at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, in the class of Prof. Darinka Matić-Marović, and is currently a doctoral student in conducting at the same faculty. She received the award of the Predrag Milošević Fund for the best conducting student. She trained with Prof. Mats Nilsson in the project The Art of Choral Singing of the Royal College of Music in Stockholm.
As teacher and conductor of the mixed choir and of the string and symphony orchestras of the Kosta Manojlović Secondary Music School in Zemun, she achieved outstanding results in artistic and teaching work, for which she was awarded many times. She worked as répétiteur of the Opera Studio of the National Theatre in Belgrade and as répétiteur and conductor of the Radio Television of Serbia Mixed Choir. As assistant conductor to Prof. Darinka Matić Marović in the Obilić Academic Choir of the Branko Krsmanović Cultural Society and the Collegium Musicum Academic Choir, she worked on major vocal and vocal-instrumental works and collaborated with many conductors: Mladen Jagušt, Bojan Suđić, Uroš Lajovic, Saša Britvić, Francesco La Vecchia, Peter Robinson, En Shao and Zubin Mehta. She prepared these choirs for competitions and took part as second conductor at festivals and on tours in Serbia and abroad (Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Spain, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Turkey, Russia, Belarus, China, South Korea, the USA, Mexico, Ecuador, Argentina).
From 2004 she was an assistant, and she is now assistant professor of choral singing and conducting in the Department of Conducting at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, where she works with the Faculty Mixed Choir and the Collegium Musicum Academic Choir. With these ensembles she has given many concerts in Serbia and toured Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Austria, Spain and Taiwan. She has also performed several times with the Faculty Symphony Orchestra, and she lectures at many seminars and workshops on choral singing and conducting.
Programme
- Our Father, the Lord’s Prayer - Aleksandar Gavanski (1901-1972), solo Vladimir Andrić, baritone
- It is truly meet - Stojan Stojkov (1941)
- Polyeleos, Praise the name of the Lord, Russian chant, 17th century, Psalm 134 - unknown authors
- Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Russian chant, 17th century - unknown authors
- Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, from the All-Night Vigil Op. 37 - Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)
- Alleluia, Save, O God, Thy people - Pavel Chesnokov (1877-1944), solo Vladimir Andrić, baritone
- Funeral Service in D minor, Op. 43, for three equal voices (excerpts) - Miloje Milojević (1884-1946), litanies and exclamations by Vladimir Andrić, baritone
- Tell me, O Lord; Sing unto the Lord, Psalm 95:1 (Third and Fourth Spiritual Verses) - Marko Tajčević (1900-1984), solo Vladimir Andrić, baritone
Niš, Serbia
“9 May” Grammar School Choir
- Conductor Prof. Suzana Petrović, MA
- Second evening 1 June 2015
- Festival Music Edict 2015
A description of this choir will be added.
Niš, Serbia
“Kir Stefan the Serb” Men’s Choir
- Conductor Miroslav Ivanković
- Second evening 1 June 2015
- Festival Music Edict 2015
The “Kir Stefan the Serb” men’s choir was founded in 2014 with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Jovan at the Church of St Panteleimon in Niš. Very soon after its founding, besides regular services, the choir began singing at hierarchal liturgies in its home church, and occasionally in the Church of Sts Constantine and Helen and the Church of St Luke.
Besides liturgical music, the choir’s repertoire includes compositions inspired by Serbian folk tradition.
The choir often performs at city events and those of the Pantelej municipality.
The choir is conducted by Miroslav Ivanković.
Programme
- Sticheron, tone 1, Let all the West rejoice, Byzantine chant (18th century) (transcribed from neumatic notation by Dr Dimitrije Stefanović)
- Holy God (from the unfinished Liturgy for men’s choir), Stevan St. Mokranjac (1856-1914)
- Magnification, Stevan St. Mokranjac (1856-1914)
- The pre-eternal counsel... Op. 40, No. 2, Pavel Chesnokov (1877-1944)
- Most blessed art thou, O Virgin Theotokos, Rodion Ledenev
- Kontakion (To thee, the champion leader), Stevan St. Mokranjac (1856-1914)
Niš, Serbia
Women’s Choir of the Student Cultural Centre
- Conductor Ivana Mirović
- Second evening 1 June 2015
- Festival Music Edict 2015
The Women’s Choir of the Student Cultural Centre of the University of Niš was founded in 2004 by conductor Zoran Stanisavljević. Its members are students of the University of Niš and pupils of schools in Niš. The choir has taken part in the “TEHO” festival in Tetovo, Macedonia (2005), the International Choir Festival in Targovishte, Bulgaria, the Youth Festival in Knjaževac, the Christmas Festival in Katerini, Greece (2006), and the choir competition in Bijeljina, Republic of Srpska (2007), where it won a gold medal in the women’s choirs category; the “Slavic Spring” festival in Barcelona, Spain; the International Festival of Student Choirs “Paparats Kvetka” in Minsk, Belarus; and the International Choir Festival in Niš, where it won the jury’s special award for “cultivating local folk tradition” (2006), the prestigious award for “the best performed programme as a whole” (2008) and the award for “cultivating lyrical expression in interpretation, thanks to the suggestive conducting of Zoran Stanisavljević” (2010). The choir gave several concerts in Bulgaria in 2007 and 2008, in Blagoevgrad, Gabrovo and Sofia. Since November 2012 the choir has been conducted by Ivana Mirović, MA, assistant professor at the Faculty of Arts in Niš. The choir’s programme is devoted to a wide variety of choral genres.
Conductor
Ivana Mirović
Ivana Mirović from Niš graduated from the Faculty of Music of Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Macedonia, in music theory and choral conducting in the class of Prof. Dragan Šuplevski. She completed her master’s studies in conducting at the Faculty of Music of the University of Belgrade in the class of Prof. Darinka Matić Marović. During her studies she was a member and then assistant conductor of the Macedonian Opera chorus. After graduating she taught at the Secondary Music School and the Higher Music School in Niš. She has worked for many years with the Niš Symphony Orchestra (several premieres, educational concerts and an appearance on the cult programme “Nedeljom uveče”), as well as with the orchestra of the Army House in Niš and the Constantinus chamber orchestra. She currently works at the Faculty of Arts in Niš as assistant professor of choir.
Ajdovščina, Slovenia
“Castrum” Octet
- Conductor Marijan Krpan
- Second evening 1 June 2015
- Festival Music Edict 2015
The Castrum Octet from Ajdovščina was founded in 2000. The octet performs Slovenian national songs as well as songs by foreign composers. It has taken part in more than 300 concerts and other occasions, including dozens of evening concerts, and is especially proud of its work with Slovenians in the diaspora (Italy, Germany, Austria and Australia). The octet performs at many concerts, events and ceremonies to which it is invited. It has released three CDs (the first dedicated to Simon Gregorčič, the second with serenades and love songs and the third with songs about wine). From the very beginning the octet has worked under the artistic direction of Nadja Bratina.
Programme
- Hail, Queen, Silvester Mihelčič
- Funeral Service, Stevan St. Mokranjac (1856-1914)
- There is none holy, Stevan Mokranjac (1856-1914)
- Our Father, Gr. Smirnov
- Look, the sun is setting, Janez Močnik (1936-)
- Evening bell, Fran Ferjančič
- Evening Ave, Anton Foerster (1837-1926)
- The early morning star, Franc Kimovec (1878-1964)
Mount Athos, Greece
Byzantine Chant Choir of Hilandar Monastery
- Third evening 2 June 2015
- Festival Music Edict 2015
Byzantine chant choir with the blessing of the Very Reverend Abbot of Hilandar, Archimandrite Metodije.
This chanting group takes part in all the services at Hilandar Monastery.
Sibiu, Romania
“Timotei Popovici” Metropolitan Choir
- Conductor Deacon Dan Alexandru Streza
- Third evening 2 June 2015
- Festival Music Edict 2015
The “Timotei Popovici” choir was founded in 1906, at the same time as the consecration of the cathedral of the Metropolis of Sibiu. It became known for the professionalism and dedication of its members and for the impressive conductors who have led it. The choir bears the name of its founder, the priest and professor Timotei Popovici (1870-1950), an impressive figure of religious musical life, who conducted the cathedral choir until 1940, proving himself a great conductor and composer at both local and national level. All who followed him also became known as gifted musicians and conductors. The repertoire includes a wide range of religious chants as well as works by Timotei Popovici, Gh. Soima, Paul Constantinescu, Gavriil Musicescu, M. Lungu, Gh. Dima and others. The choir is conducted by Deacon Dan Alexandru Streza and has about 50 members from many professions, all united by their love of song and service to God.
Conductor
Deacon Dan Alexandru Streza
Dan Alexandru Streza is 31 and has conducted the choir for almost 15 years. He completed his undergraduate, master’s and doctoral studies at the “Andrei Șaguna” Faculty of Theology in Sibiu, and this year he is due to graduate from the “Gheorghe Dima” Music Academy in Cluj-Napoca. He has become very dear to and highly valued by the members of the choir, as he constantly strives to continue his predecessors’ tradition of a high standard in interpreting choral music.
Programme
- Concerto No. 1, Gavriil Musicescu
- Have mercy on me, O God, Gheorghe Cucu
- Easter Concerto, Dmitry Bortniansky
- Our Lord and Saviour, Ioan Dimitrie Chirescu
- The day of Resurrection, Ioan Dimitrie Chirescu
Moscow, Russia
“MIPT” University Choir of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
- Conductor Aleksandra Nikolayevna Luzanova
- Third evening 2 June 2015
- Festival Music Edict 2015
The MIPT choir was re-established in 2007 under the name of the earlier choir of the same name. Unusually, although it is the official choir of the university, it has taken on the duty of singing regularly at Orthodox services in the Church of the Holy Transfiguration in Moscow. Its distinctive feature to this day is its dual status - it is both a university and a church choir. Its performances clearly show that Russia’s singing culture grew out of Orthodox chant, which is the basis of Russian choral culture. The choir is also supported by the humanities faculties of the Moscow university. Prof. Lyubov Pavlovna Skorovarova and Viktor Petrovich Lega are actively involved in shaping its musical expression, and the choir is grateful to Prof. Yuri Alexandrovich Samarsky for his mentorship and artistic care of the ensemble.
Conductor
Aleksandra Nikolayevna Luzanova
The conductor of the MIPT choir, Aleksandra Nikolayevna Luzanova, graduated from the State Musical College in the class of V. K. Lyubarsky and from the Faculty of Symphonic and Choral Conducting of the Moscow Conservatory in the class of S. S. Kalinin, where she also completed her postgraduate studies. She taught at the Music Faculty of Moscow State Pedagogical University. Since 2007 she has led the MIPT chamber choir.
Niš, Serbia
Choral Society “Branko”
- Conductor Sara Cincarević
- Third evening 2 June 2015
- Festival Music Edict 2015
A description of this choir will be added.