Description
Vojislav Ivanovic was born in Sarajevo, former Yugoslavia – Bosnia and Herzegovina. He obtained the highest academic degrees in Classical Guitar at The Athens Conservatory with Costas Cotsiolis (awarded 1st class B. Mus. 1986) and Composition at The University of Sarajevo with Vojislav Komadina (awarded M. Mus. with distinction 1991). Both as a guitarist and a composer he is recipient of various international prizes and distinctions. He appeared as a soloist in recitals, in various chamber ensembles and with orchestras worldwide. His diverse compositional output includes music for solo and accompanied instruments (guitar, cello, piano, flute, vocal etc.), choral and orchestral works, string quartet, piano and guitar concerto (English Concerto), songs etc. His 6 Pièces de Café for solo guitar, amongst others, seem to have won particular acclaim by the audiences and guitarists worldwide. He also wrote radiophonic music, film scores (2nd prize at The Oberhausen Film Festival, Prix d’Italia at the 1991 Palermo International Film Festival), theatre and TV music. His continuous interest, both as a composer and a performer, in traditional, improvised and jazz music begins with the founding of the Levantine Jazz Trio with pianist and composer Milos Petrovic and percussionist Veljko Nikolic. It continues with the founding of the Levantina band with drummer Srdjan Ivanovic, and bassist Iotis Kiourtsoglou, collaborating with many musicians, notably sax players such as Dimitris Tsakas and David Lynch. He has played and recorded with some world-renowned musicians such as: singer Savina Yannatou, double-bass player Arild Andersen, saxophonist Bendik Hofseth, drummer Paul Vertico (ex Pat Metheny group) trumpetist Paolo Fresu and others. In 2008 he forms the “Levante Guitar Duo” with Aleksandra Lazrevic. They have made numerous successful appearances ever since, both at home and abroad, performing the music Vojislav specially writes for the duo. Vojislav is a professor of guitar at the Music Academy of East Sarajevo. His music is published by two of the most prestigious guitar music publishers: Chanterelle Verlag and Doberman-Yppan. He has also conducted master classes and served as a member of juries at various international festivals and guitar competitions. “…keen intelligence allied to a refreshing musical sensibility…” - Classical Guitar Magazine, London
