KOTORART TALENTS

Monday, July 15
Church of the Holy Spirit, 9:30 p.m.
KOTORART TALENTS

STUDENTS OF THE VIDA MATJAN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY MUSIC SCHOOL (KOTOR)
KATRINA AGATE, cello (USA)
TAMARA ALEKSIĆ, piano (Montenegro)
MARINA MIKIĆ, piano (Montenegro / Serbia)

The Vida Matjan Primary and Secondary Music School in Kotor, over its seven decades of existence has retained the status of an institution that has inherited and perpetuates the true values of national and international musical culture, while also modernizing and improving the learning process. Current teachers and associates successfully continue the tradition of their predecessors and through their everyday work and effort contribute to the development of the institution, whose quality has been confirmed again and again in appearances at national and international competitions and festivals. In addition to the magnificent building in the Old Town, the school operates in its regional branches in Risan, Radanovići, and Lastva Grbaljska. With about 450 students and 48 teachers and associates, the classes are taught in the departments of Piano, Wind Instruments, Strings, and Voice, among others. For the second consecutive year, the school is organizing a Music Garden workshop for children, with the objective of motivating children at an early age to become fond of music through music, dance, and public performance. Since 2007, the School has proudly born the name Vida Matjan, composer and pedagogue, director and founder of the school, who acquired her musical education in her native Ljubljana and then in Belgrade. The exceptional power and versatility of musical activities, encompassed in the field of music pedagogy, in which Matjan constantly aspires to innovate, makes the school another home for children. Therefore, the interest and dedication of the children have constantly grown, with many continuing to be professionally engaged in music after finishing the school, while countless others remain musically active as amateurs, operating as members of town and church choirs, of City Music, etc.

This year, Santa Barbara and Kotor are marking the 10th anniversary of the official establishment of cooperation between the sister cities. Over this time, the two cities have overcome the great physical distance and myriad differences that exist between them, recognizing what connects them: affinities towards art, sports, culture, and cuisine – the beautiful and sublime aspects of life. Frequent exchanges, above all of young, talented people, is one of the most integral programs for strengthening and further developing these relationships and creating friendships that nurture the same values. Thanks to the Santa Barbara-Kotor Sister City Committee, under the auspices of Mr. George Lilly, who wholeheartedly supports the development of the companionship between the two cities, young water polo players, chefs, and musicians have exchanged visits, learning from their peers, expanding their horizons by acquiring new friendships and discovering new regions, cities, and countries, their customs and their cultures. When it comes to music, the KotorArt Festival has been collaborating with the renowned Music Academy of the West for several years now, and last year, the collaboration with the University of California in Santa Barbara (UCSB) was launched. This year, we will host an excellent young cellist, Katrina Agate, while in October, young musicians from Montenegro will visit Santa Barbara in return, where they will perform on several occasions. This exchange of experiences, creating opportunities to perform, and the development of young musicians is a feature priority of both KotorArt and the Santa Barbara-Kotor Sister City Committee.

Katrina Agate began studying cello at the age of 9. She has studied with Andrew Cook, Janet Shulman, Ryan Sweeney, Clive Greensmith, Jacob Braun, and currently, Jennifer Kloetzel. She has participated in numerous masterclasses with teachers such as Yo-Yo Ma, Steven Isserlis, Alban Gerhardt, and Carter Brey. In the summer of 2015, she attended the Music Academy, studying under David Geber and Alan Stepansky. Last year, she was awarded the Martin Kamen Fellowship for Strings at UCSB.  Most recently, she received first place in the senior instrumental category of the PASF Scholarship Competition. She currently studies Electrical Engineering and Cello Performance at the University of California, Santa Barbara.