The Power of Music: Concert of the Montenegrin Military Orchestra and the Military Music of Upper Austria

Last night, a concert titled Montenegro and Austria: The Power of Music was held on the crowded Square of the St. Tryphon Cathedral. It was a joint performance of the Montenegrin Military Orchestra and the Military Music of Upper Austria under conductors Milo Belević and Gernot Haidegger. 

The enthusiastic audience and performers showed the true power and strength of music. Those present were addressed by: Mr. Ratimir Martinović, General and Artistic Director of KotorArt, Mr. Krsto Perović, State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense of Montenegro, Mr. Dr. Arnold Kamel, secretary general and director general of the Directorate for Defense Policy of the Ministry of Defense of Austria and Ms. Dafina Beqiri, Senior Program Manager at Western Balkans Fund.

The concert was also the gala opening of the four-day regional conference titled Contemporary Fortresses of Culture: Boka, Trebinje, Novi Sad, which focuses on the practices of protection and valorization of Austro-Hungarian fortifications, as well as on the promotion and popularization of this important part of cultural heritage.
This project continues the successful practice of interweaving art with important social themes and intensifies the level of regional cultural exchange and cooperation.

The concert was held with the support of the Western Balkans Fund, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense of Montenegro, the Ministry of Defense of Austria, the Embassy of Austria in Montenegro, Erste Bank, the Mostovi Association, the Music & More Summer Festival from Trebinje, the Almašani Association from Novi Sad, and the KOD non-governmental organization.

This summer, the KotorArt International Festival is being held in the period from July 1 to August 14, with a rich and varied program, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Media and the Municipality of Kotor, with the support of the European Union, the Western Balkans Fund, the Open Society Foundation, numerous embassies in Montenegro and other significant partners and sponsors.