Young Montenegrin Musicians Kosta and Petar Popović at KotorArt

The KotorArt International Festival is organizing a concert featuring the young Montenegrin cellist, Kosta Popović, a scholarship recipient for the 2023/2024 cycle awarded by the Miloš Karadaglić Foundation in partnership with Adriatic Marinas Porto Montenegro and One Montenegro. The concert is scheduled for Friday, July 26, at the Church of the Holy Spirit, starting at 9 p.m. Admission to the concert is free.

In collaboration with his brother, the young pianist Petar Popović, Kosta will present compositions by Beethoven, Cassadó, Debussy, and de Falla to the audience.

KotorArt is known not only for its outstanding artistic programs, unique concepts, and world-class art music stars but also for its special connection to youth. The diverse program palette includes platforms such as KotorArt Talents, KotorArt Academy, and the Young Artists Forum. Among this year's varied program, we are extremely pleased to support the work, effort, education, and talent of young Montenegrin musicians, brothers Kosta and Petar Popović. Cellist Kosta Popović has previously performed at the Festival within the KotorArt Talents platform in 2019, where he presented with a trio alongside violinist Luka Perazić and pianist Simo Šišević. In 2023, he was one of the participants of the Young Artists Forum, where he stood out with his ideas, creativity, cheerful spirit, and sense of humor. We are glad to be able to follow the progress of young Montenegrin artists year after year and simultaneously be a support and backbone on their journey, stated the Festival's PR department.

Kosta Popović (Podgorica, 2000) received his primary and secondary music education at the Vasa Pavić School of Music and Ballet in Podgorica, studying under his father, Professor Mladen Popović. He graduated in 2023 from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, under Professor Louise Hopkins. He has participated in masterclasses with internationally renowned artists and ensembles, as well as chamber music studies at the Reina Sofía College of Music in Madrid and the Netherlands String Quartet Academy. He has performed as a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician in numerous concerts and international festivals, and has received several student scholarships and awards. As the founder of the Fibonacci Quartet, Kosta Popović has had notable performances abroad, including winning the first prize at the Royal Over-Seas League chamber music competition. Currently, he is in the first year of his master's studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In addition to modern music, Kosta Popović plays the baroque cello in the ensemble of the Academy of Ancient Music.

Petar Popović (Podgorica, 2002) received his primary and secondary music education at the Vasa Pavić School of Music and Ballet in Podgorica, studying under Professor Lidija Skender and Professor Milena Nikočević. He further refined his skills under the guidance of eminent local and international music educators, earning several awards at music festivals and the Za Odličan Pet!  Award from the Ministry of Education of Montenegro. As part of the Aeternum piano trio, he regularly performed at the Summer Festival of Chamber Music at Ivanova Korita, concerts organized by the Montenegrin Heritage Society and the Budo Tomović Cultural Information Center, as well as at the KotorArt Festival. Petar Popović participated in the Carnival of the Animals multimedia project by the Montenegrin Music Center, and held his first solo concert in 2022 at the Budo Tomović Cultural Information Center. He began his Piano Studies at the Music Academy in Cetinje, under Professor Bojan Martinović, and continued at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich, studying under Professor Silke Avenhaus. As part of the Touch the Fire in the Dolomites project (South Tyrol), along with his classmates, he performed in March 2024 at the Neustift and Hofburg Halls in Brixen, and the Claudio Monteverdi Conservatory Hall in Bolzano.