Founders, 1887
- Bishop Dimitrije Pavlović of Niš
- Stevan Nikšić Lala
- Spira Kalik
- Bogoljub Tirić
- Aleksandar Zajček
HomeBranko Choir
Mixed choir · Niš Church Choral Society
Choir Branko
Since 1887, the voice of the Cathedral in Niš.
- Founded
- 1 September 1887
- Conductor
- Sara Cincarević
- Choir patron saint
- St George the Great Martyr and Victory-Bearer
- Tours
- 30+ countries
Official biography
A century and more in the service of song
The Niš Church Choral Society “Branko” was founded on 1 September 1887 at the Cathedral in Niš, through the efforts of Bishop Dimitrije Pavlović of Niš, later Serbian Patriarch, and a group of professors of the Niš Gymnasium - only twelve years after the liberation of Niš from the Turks. The choir was named after Branko Radičević, the poet of Serbian Romanticism.
From its foundation to the present day, the Society's main aim has been to take part regularly in the services of the Cathedral in Niš with its chant and to cultivate Serbian sacred and secular song, thereby fostering love for the Church and the homeland. Even in the most difficult moments, throughout both World Wars, the choir did not abandon its mission.
The Society's honorary members included Stevan Stojanović Mokranjac, Josif Marinković, Stanislav Binički, Aleksa Šantić and Branislav Nušić. The choir holds the Order of St Sava of all classes - from the Fourth Class (1923) to the First Class (2017) - the Order of the Holy Emperor Constantine, the Gold Medal for Merit of the Republic of Serbia and the “11 January” Award of the City of Niš.
The choir sang at the enthronement of Serbian Patriarch Pavle (1994) and Patriarch Irinej (2010) at the Patriarchate of Peć. Over the last three decades it has performed in more than 30 countries of Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East, at festivals in Minsk, Hajnówka, Negotin, Marktoberdorf, Rothenburg and Puebla.
On the Society's initiative, the International Festival of Sacred Choral Music “Music Edict” was founded in Niš in 2009. The choir has been conducted by Sara Cincarević since 1990.
Conductor since 1990
Sara Cincarević
Sara Cincarević was born in Prizren into the Timotijević family of priests. She received her basic musical education in the same city. Already as a fifteen-year-old girl she conducted the children's choir of the Orthodox church in Đakovica. She continued her musical education at the “Mokranjac” Secondary Music School in Belgrade. During that period she conducted the junior choir of the First Belgrade Choral Society.
In 1983 she moved to Niš, and since 1990 she has headed the Niš Church Choral Society “Branko”. Thanks to her dedication and professional authority, the choir “Branko” has not only been revitalised and rejuvenated with pupils, students, intellectuals and artists, but has also achieved outstanding results over the past decades, with numerous notable performances at home and abroad.
In 2008 Sara Cincarević was awarded the Order of the Holy Apostle Paul of the Metropolis of Veria, Naousa and Kampania of the Church of Greece. A special honour for the Society “Branko” and for conductor Sara Cincarević personally was singing at the liturgies of the enthronement of Patriarch Pavle (1994) and Patriarch Irinej (2010) in Peć. From 2010 to 2013 she was a member of the jury of the International Festival “Days of Church Music” in Hajnówka, Poland. She has been the selector of the International Festival of Sacred Choral Music “Music Edict” in Niš since its foundation in 2009. She is a long-standing member of the Council of the International Choir Festival in Niš and a member of the Council of the Mokranjac Days in Negotin.
From 1887 to the present
Conductors through history
Since its foundation in 1887, many distinguished figures have stood at the conductor's stand of the Niš Church Choral Society “Branko”, shaping the ensemble's artistic development and distinctive sound through their work.
1Janićije Popović1887
2Bohumil Svoboda1887-1889
3Vojtěch Šístek1891-1894
4Vićentije Petrik1894-1902
5Milutin Tatić1902-1915, 1918-1919
6Vjačeslav Nigl1921
7Aleksandr Filipovič Vinkov1921
8Hugo Riedl1921
9Nikola Stojanović1921
10Milivoje Pokorni1921-1929
11Veljamin Rudko1929-1940
12Dušan Radovanović1941-1942
13Ivan Tatarkin1942-1945
14Miloš Miša Radovanović1945-1948
15Slavko Živković1950-1952
16Živojin Stanković1952-1964
17Borivoje Petrović Pojac1952-1964
18Mihail Spiridonović Peleh1952-1964
19Stevan Guščin1965-1970
20Srboljub Cvetković1971-1976
21Stevan Cincarević1976-1990
22 · conductor todaySara Cincarevićsince 1990
Each generation of conductors has left its mark on the Society's more than century-long tradition, preserving its fundamental mission - nurturing Orthodox sacred music and the Serbian choral tradition.
Honorary presidents
- Bishop Dositej Vasić of Niš
- Bishop Jovan Ilić of Niš
- Serbian Patriarch Irinej
Presidents through history
- 1. Spira Kalik1887-1889
- 2. Stevan Nikšić1889-1895
- 3. Mihailo Marković1895-1897
- 4. Todor Milovanović1897-1912
- 5. Petar Stanković1912-1922
- 6. Dimitrije Pejović1922-1925
- 7. Nikola Stanojković1925-1927
- 8. Pavle Stojanović1927-1929
- 9. Mihailo Milinković1929-1933
- 10. Dragutin Đokić1933-1935
- 11. Boža Manojlović1935-1965
- 12. Života Janković1965-1995
- 13. Dušan Stanković1998-2000
- 14. Vojkan Mitrović2000-2020
- 15. Bojan Ilić2020 to the present
The people who lead the Society
Board
- Bojan Ilićpresident of the choir
- Dejan Milojkovićvice-president of the choir
- Sara Cincarevićconductor of the choir
- Jovana Mikićconductor of the Children's Choir
- Nataša Terzićmember of the Board
- Jovana Cincarevićmember of the Board
- Marija Mitićmember of the Board
- Milica Beganmember of the Board
- Emilija Radmilovićmember of the Board
- Marko Stanimirovićmember of the Board
- Dimitrije Pančićmember of the Board
- Luka Terzićmember of the Board
- PR Zdravko Stojnićmedia relations
Honours
Awards and honours
- 01Order of St Sava, First Class2017.
- 02Gold Medal for Merit of the Republic of Serbia2017.
- 03Order of St Sava, Second Class1997.
- 04Order of St Sava, Third Classbetween 1923 and 1941
- 05Order of St Sava, Fourth Class1923.
- 06Order of the Holy Emperor Constantine2007.
Gallery
“Branko” in pictures
The ensemble on stages and in churches around the world. Click a photograph to enlarge it.
The voices of “Branko”
Become part of “Branko”
How to become a member
If you love choral music and sacred song and wish to become part of a community that has lasted for generations - the doors of “Branko” are open to you.
The Choral Society “Branko” sings at services in the Cathedral in Niš, and you can find the choir every Sunday in the church gallery during the Divine Liturgy.
Choir rehearsals are held twice a week from 8 pm, in the choir rooms within the Cathedral complex in Niš.
Come, meet us and feel what it is like to be part of “Branko”. You can get all the information about joining the choir directly from our members and the conductor after the Liturgy or by coming to one of the rehearsals.
- Rehearsals
- Twice a week from 8 pm
- Where
- Choir rooms in the Cathedral complex in Niš
- Liturgy
- Every Sunday, Cathedral gallery