Project #Synergy builds stronger ties in the region through music

International cultural cooperation project #Synergy: Strengthening the capacities of the classical music industry in the Western Balkans, led by the International Festival KotorArt in partnership with renowned regional art festivals, and supported by the European Union through the Creative Europe program, was enriched with twelve new participants.

An expert jury consisting of distinguished regional art music experts: Branka Popović, Iva Lovrec-Štefanović, Ratimir Martinović, Vasil S. Tole, Lejla Pula and Darko Brlek, selected twelve composers to take part in the abovementioned project. Selected composers from Montenegro, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Albania and Kosovo include Nina Perović, Milivoje Pićurić, Helena Skljarov, Tomislav Oliver, Matija Krečič, Timotej Kosovinc, Jetmir Zaganjori, Kris Soqipoti, Mira Milosavljević, Predrag Radisavljević, Kreshnik Aliçkaj and Ardian Halimi.

While adhering to and fostering European values, through this project KotorArt continues to support and promote young musicians with the aim of contributing to the expansion and understanding of the rich musical heritage of the region. In that sense, inspired by local and European cultural heritage, the mentioned artists will write new compositions to be performed during the grand finale of the project in 2023, as part of a festival tour aimed to promote and showcase their achievements, as well as those of other promising young musicians from the region.

What makes this project special is that during their two-week residencies in Kotor, Dubrovnik, Belgrade, Ljubljana, Pristina and Tirana, the composers will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights into the cultural scenes of different countries, while promoting their work in local communities.

"I am happy to be part of the #synergy project. This is a rare opportunity for colleagues from the region to connect and I am glad that we are deepening our regional cooperation. I am sure that the meetings with the musicians, as well as the two-week residency in Dubrovnik will raise many important issues and encourage the creative process", said composer Nina Perović. "Spending two weeks at the residence in Belgrade will be very inspiring to start working on new music and I am pleased that this work will be performed and heard in several places. We need to look beyond the borders and strengthen the ties in the region”, concludes Milivoje Pićurić. 

Project #synergy: Strengthening the capacity of the classical music industry in the Western Balkans, supported by the EU's Creative Europe program, brings together six major art festivals from the region: KotorArt Don Branko's Music Days (Montenegro), Dubrovnik Summer Festival (Croatia), Belgrade Festival Center Serbia), Ljubljana Festival (Slovenia), Vox Baroque (Albania) and Chopin Piano Fest Pristina (Kosovo). The project aims to strengthen capacities and exchange knowledge at the regional and European level, improve and connect cultural professionals, encourage the composition of new works of classical music inspired by the European and local heritage of partner countries, as well as promote networking and cooperation between young musicians, composers and organizations dealing with classical music in the Western Balkans. Over 34 months, the #synergy project will bring together twelve composers and over fifty promising musicians and cultural managers. Six workshops for cultural professionals will be held, as well as twelve residencies for composers, resulting in twelve new musical works inspired by the cultural heritage of the region and Europe.