Empowering art and creativity in Serbia

Damjan Jovičin is a talented Serbian composer and pianist based in Belgrade. He is a prominent figure among the emerging generation of creative artists and composers in the Balkans. Damjan boasts an extensive body of musical compositions, and his works have been performed by esteemed ensembles such as the RTS Orchestra and Choir, Hermes Ensemble, Mivos Quartet, Manojlović Quartet, Zagreb Flute Ensemble, String Orchestra of the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, Belgrade Guitar Duo, and numerous others.

His compositions have been showcased at prestigious events and venues, including the Summer Course for New Music in Darmstadt, the International Summer Academy of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, Finland’s Time of Music festival, the Walden Creative Music Retreat in New Hampshire, USA, and the Belgrade Music Festival (BEMUS).

Damjan is among the Serbian artists who have reaped the benefits of the Creative Europe program. His artistic creations found a stage in the EU-funded Balkan Youth Jazz Orchestra and formed part of the “Opera: Past present Perfect!” project. In his own words, “Both of these experiences were very valuable for my artistic portfolio. Besides the professional fulfillment, I also had the opportunity to forge new friendships and connections. All in all, it was a rewarding learning experience,” Damjan reflects.

The international initiative, “Opera: Past, Present, Perfect!”, was initiated under the Creative Europe-Culture: European Cooperation Projects in 2020. The project run from September 2020, to February 2023. Alongside MOTO – Music, Opera, and Theater Organization, which serves as the project lead, collaborators include Nieuw Geneco from Amsterdam (Netherlands), Young Musician International Association of Georgia from Tbilisi (Georgia), University of Donja Gorica in Podgorica (Montenegro), and the Little Theatre “Duško Radović” in Serbia.

The primary objective of the “Opera: Past, Present, Perfect!” project is to foster connections and offer education to young professionals, aiming to facilitate cross-sectoral, cross-national, and intergenerational dialogues (particularly between young professionals and mentors). The project seeks to promote collaboration and the exchange of expertise, ultimately repositioning opera as an interdisciplinary and genuine European art form.

Within the framework of this project, Damjan Jovičin’s opera “Mercy Street” was performed in Belgrade, in theater Duško Radović. However, in addition to the opportunity to showcase his work, Damjan also took advantage of mentoring opportunities made available through the Dutch Composers’ Union, thanks to the project’s support. In his own words, “We were provided with online tutoring sessions on opera composition, which also included valuable feedback on our musical compositions. Receiving guidance from experienced composers was an exceptionally enriching and meaningful experience,” Damjan acknowledges.