Niš, Serbia
Church Choral Society “Branko”
- Conductor Sara Cincarević
- First evening 7 June 2009
- Festival Music Edict 2009
The Niš Church Choral Society “Branko” was founded on 1 September 1887 as the choir of the Cathedral in Niš, only 12 years after Niš was freed from Turkish rule. The basic aim of the Society, from its founding to the present day, has been to sing regularly at services in the Cathedral of Niš and to cultivate Serbian church and secular song, thereby developing love for the Church and the homeland. The ensemble was completely revitalised when Mrs Sara Cincarević became its leader. Since then the choir has toured Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Srpska, Montenegro, Austria, Italy, Germany, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Canada, the USA ... It has taken part in many international festivals and won many awards, including the International Festival of Orthodox Chant in Minsk, Belarus (1st place), the Days of Church Music in Hajnówka, Poland (Grand Prix) and the Days of Mokranjac in Negotin (1st place). The choir holds the Order of St Sava, Second Class, and the Order of St Paul the Apostle of the Greek Church.
