12th Horizons on the Tisa – Days of Josif Marinković 2004 | Novi Bečej, Serbia

19–21 May 2004
Open Competition for Solo Singers

The biennial alternation between the solo singers’ competition and the invitational composers’ competition for solo songs found its rhythm, so the 12th edition of “Horizons on the Tisa” was marked by the fifth open competition for solo singers.

Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony of the event was held on May 19 at the elementary school bearing the composer’s name, located in the street of the same name. The choir of Novi Bečej children, conducted by Sofija Jegdić Gurjanov, performed songs by Josif Marinković composed for young performers.

The program was complemented by excerpts from the composer’s biography, read by Tomislava Arsenov, a graduating student of the “Jovan Jovanović Zmaj” Gymnasium in Novi Sad, taken from her final thesis on the life and work of Josif Marinković. She later donated her work to the composer’s Memorial Collection.

Tribute to Josif Marinković’s Grandson

Instead of welcoming, as in previous years, Josif Marinković’s grandson, Dr. Ivan Valčić, and his wife Ružica, the opening day of the event was marked by the news of Dr. Valčić’s passing in Belgrade. For this reason, the planned address was replaced by a remembrance of the composer’s descendant.

The obituary was delivered by Branislav Kiselički, founder of the Marinković Memorial Collection, who emphasized that in 1971 the valuable documentation, photographs, original sheet music, and the bust of Josif Marinković (created in 1911 by the renowned sculptor Simeon Roksandić) were donated to Novi Bečej by the family of the composer’s daughter, Jelena Marinković Valčić. In this way, precious material preserving the memory of the life and prolific work of the distinguished composer was permanently safeguarded—an enduring source of pride for the people of Novi Bečej.

Solo Singers Competition – First Round

The second day of the festival was reserved for the first round of the solo singers competition. Twelve contestants participated—eight women and four men—some of whom had also been successful competitors at the International Music Youth Competition in Belgrade in 2003.

The contestants performed in alphabetical order:

1. Dragoljub Bajić (Belgrade, 1986), bass, Faculty of Music, Belgrade, class of Nikola Mijailović
2. Verica Vranić (Gradiška, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1982), soprano, Faculty of Music, Belgrade, class of Radmila Bakočević
3. Izabela Gužvanj (Apatin, 1981), soprano, Academy of Arts, Novi Sad, class of Vera Kovač Vitkai
4. Biljana Košničar (Kotor, 1980), soprano
5. Stevica Krajinović (Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1981), baritone, Faculty of Music, Belgrade, class of Katica Nikolić
6. Ivana Milašinović (Kosovska Mitrovica, 1981), mezzo-soprano, Faculty of Music, Belgrade, class of Biserka Cvejić
7. Dragana Petković (Smederevo, 1977), soprano, Faculty of Music, Belgrade, class of Katica Nikolić
8. Aleksandra Petrović (Niš, 1984), soprano, Academy of Arts, Novi Sad, class of Milica Stojadinović
9. Sanja Radišić (Belgrade, 1980), mezzo-soprano, Faculty of Music, Belgrade, class of Nikola Kitanovski
10. Branislav Stankov (Zrenjanin, 1981), baritone, Academy of Arts, Novi Sad, class of Milica Stojadinović
11. Milena Stričević (Novi Sad, 1979), soprano, Academy of Arts, Novi Sad, class of Vera Kovač Vitkai
12. Goran Strgar (Novi Sad, 1979), tenor, Academy of Arts, Novi Sad, class of Vera Kovač Vitkai

All performers approached their interpretations with great enthusiasm, focusing primarily on musical expression and the essence of the music itself. At this stage of artistic development, eight singers stood out and advanced to the final round, while Verica Vranić, Dragana Petković, Branislav Stankov, and Goran Strgar concluded their participation by decision of the jury.

Final Round – Eight Selected Performers

The final of the fifth open solo singers competition featured six female voices—two mezzo-sopranos (Ivana Milašinović and Sanja Radišić) and four sopranos (Izabela Gužvanj, Biljana Košničar, Aleksandra Petrović, and Milena Stričević)—as well as two male voices: bass Dragoljub Bajić and baritone Stevica Krajinović.

As in the first round, the contestants were accompanied on the piano by Tamara Jovićević, Božidar Crnjanski, Ivan Jovanović, and Jelena Đajić. The jury, consisting of Biserka Cvejić (Chair), Eugen Gvozdanović, Stanko Šepić, Miroslav Štatkić, and Andrej Bursać, awarded the first prize in the female category to mezzo-soprano Ivana Milašinović, a student of the Faculty of Music in Belgrade.

In the same category, second prizes were awarded to Milena Stričević and Sanja Radišić.
The “Josif Marinković” Award, for the best performance of the technically and expressively demanding song From Town to Town, was awarded to Milena Stričević.

In keeping with tradition, the jury president Biserka Cvejić also presented her special awards for best mezzo-soprano to Ivana Milašinović and Sanja Radišić.

In the male category, the strongest impression in the final round was made by first prize winner Stevica Krajinović, while the second prize went to Dragoljub Bajić.

Awards

Female Voices

• 1st Prize: Ivana Milašinović
• 2nd Prize: Milena Stričević, Sanja Radišić
• 3rd Prize: Not awarded

Male Voices

• 1st Prize: Stevica Krajinović
• 2nd Prize: Dragoljub Bajić

“Josif Marinković” Award

• Milena Stričević – for the interpretation of From Town to Town

Biserka Cvejić Award for Best Mezzo-Soprano

• Ivana Milašinović
• Sanja Radišić

Accompanying Programs

The festival was enriched by several substantial accompanying programs. At the “Selo” Gallery, organized by the Association of Admirers of Mount Athos, a photography exhibition titled Roofs of Hilandar by Žarko Čigoja was presented and opened by writer Milovan Vitezović. The exhibition was accompanied by a concert of sacred music performed by the church choir “Saint Simeon the Myrrh-streaming” from Melenci, conducted by Vladimir Prvulović.

On the first day of the festival, a concert was held in the main hall featuring students of the “Josif Marinković” Elementary Music School from Vršac, as well as the choir and chamber string orchestra of the “Mokranjac” Music School from Belgrade.

The festival days concluded on the terrace of the Cultural Center with the performance Dark Cherry-Colored Scarf, created by Agneš Đukičin, with musical support by Dubravka Nešović.