"The guitar has a gentle sound, like the touch of hands. The guitar has a quiet sound, like a friend whispering," said the famous Spanish guitar virtuoso Francisco Tarek.
If he is right, the people of Nikšić have been witnessing this for 19 years, the duration of the Nikšić Guitar Festival (NGF), which will celebrate two decades of existence this fall. Thanks to the organizers and participants, the festival has long ceased to be both Nikšić and Montenegrin. World-class, and ours - would be the shortest, but also the most accurate description of the festival.
“Twenty years of top-notch concerts, inspiring masterclasses and competitions that have shaped generations of guitarists - that is the story of the Nikšić Guitar Festival, a festival that has become a regional center for classical guitar and an unavoidable point on the European music map. From humble beginnings to international prestige, the festival has grown, evolved and set new standards for the organization of musical events. Today, the Nikšić Guitar Festival is not just a festival - it is a movement, a platform and a vision for the development of art in Montenegro and beyond,” the Montenegrin classical guitar virtuoso tells “Vijesti”, Daniel Cerovic, which, now in 2005, with Goran Perišić entered the story of Nikšić becoming a stage for world-famous artists. And it became so.
“When Goran Perišić and I launched the Nikšić Guitar Festival in 2005, our vision was clear - we wanted Nikšić to have a classical guitar festival that would attract top artists, students and lovers of this instrument. Honestly, we didn't think about how long it would last, but we were focused on putting it on a sound foundation. Now, when we look back, we see that the festival has not only survived, but has become one of the most important classical guitar festivals in the region,” emphasizes Cerović, the festival's artistic director and an artist who lives a life intertwined with music.
He recalls that the first edition of the festival brought together notable names from the world of classical guitar, such as Karla Markjonea, Goran Krivokapić, Srdjan Tosic, Tilman Hopstok, as well as young talents who were just starting their careers.
“From the very beginning, the festival had an international character and aimed for a high artistic level. The turning point was when we started receiving inquiries from big names on the world guitar scene who wanted to come and perform. Also, when talented young guitarists from all over the region applied to the festival, we knew we were on the right track. A major role in the affirmation of the festival was also played by Miroslav Tadic, Vlatko Stefanovski, Goran Krivokapić, institutions such as the Music Center of Montenegro, Nikšić Theater, Cetinje Music Academy, Zahumlje, Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra, 'Dara Čokorilo' Music School, Nikšić Municipality, from its founding until today, as well as the Ministry of Culture, but also many others who have become part of our story.
Persistence, passion and work for the festival's global visibility
In 19 years, hundreds of guitarists, says Cerović, have passed through the festival - whether as competitors, students at master classes, lecturers or jury members, while the guitar school, which was created as a festival educational platform, has produced musicians who are active on stage today.
“Many of the winners of our competition are today top guitarists, professors at academies, winners of prestigious awards. Their victory at the NGF was a springboard for them, because we have always tried to provide the winners with the opportunity to perform, gain contacts and open the doors of international stages. We are especially happy when we see them as lecturers and performers at later editions of the festival. So far, through the builders, we have provided top-quality concert guitars, more than thirty instruments, and the winners have regularly performed with the Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra.”
Krivokapić admits that in 2005, the guitar in Montenegro did not have the status it has today and that it was not easy on the path of its renaissance.
“It took a lot of perseverance, passion and work to create the conditions for the development and affirmation of young talents. Thanks to the festival, educational programs and continuous work, classical guitar in Montenegro has gained much greater importance. In an effort to motivate and support domestic talents, we have established an award for the best Montenegrin participant in the festival. This initiative aims to affirm young guitarists and include them in the international classical music scene.”
They managed to increase the visibility and importance of the festival through live TV broadcasts of the competition, and to enable its global presence through cooperation with digital platforms and media.
“Over the years, the festival has evolved. We realized that the audience wanted a broader musical content, so we added Festival Plus, which allowed for performances by artists who are not exclusively from the classical guitar, but are related to it. This contributed to diversity and attracted a wider audience. Today, as a separate entity, there is also the Balkan Soul Festival. It is difficult to single out just a few performances that marked the festival, but I would mention Miroslav Tadić, Vlatko Stefanovski, Goran Krivokapić, Boška Jovic, Karla Markjonea, Graham Antonia We are beautiful., but also the concerts of the Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra, which performed in Nikšić from 2008 to 2021. Also, the concerts that combined classical guitar with other genres were special - collaborations with jazz and ethno musicians brought a new experience to the audience in the Festival Plus segment," says the artistic director of the festival, which brought new competitions and festival platforms.
There is an international competition in Tivat that brings together young talents from all over the world, the Balkan Soul Festival, a new musical concept that explores the combination of classical guitar, ethno sound and improvisation, as well as the EuroStrings platform - Nikšić Guitar Fest is the only festival in Montenegro that is part of this prestigious European network of guitar festivals, thus enabling young musicians to exchange knowledge and the opportunity to perform on the world's largest stages.
“But the NGF has also become a meeting place for the world's most famous guitar builders, allowing young musicians to meet and test top-quality instruments. This synergy has inspired a new project - Guitar Expo, a platform where the most innovative guitar builders and their instruments will be presented.”
“Twenty years behind us is just the beginning”
For the anniversary, they are planning a special program that will not only last during September and October, but will be a series of events throughout the year.
"For the 20th edition of the festival, we are planning a special program - a retrospective of the most significant moments, a documentary series about the history of the festival and its influence on the music scene, guest appearances by big names who have marked the past two decades, masterclasses and lectures with top musicians and educators, an exhibition dedicated to the development of the festival and its contribution to the cultural landscape of the region, as well as a new visual and souvenir identity for the festival. We want this anniversary to be unforgettable for the audience and participants," emphasized Cerović, who considers the feedback from young guitarists, who say that the festival changed their careers or inspired their path, to be the greatest compliments he has received when it comes to Guitar Fest.
"Wishes? Of course, there are always some - some more big names in the guitar, even stronger support from the local community and greater recognition of the festival on a global level. Looking back, I wouldn't change much. Every challenge was part of the journey. I would tell my younger self: believe in your vision, but be prepared for a lot of work, patience and adaptation. And yes, never forget how important a team is. Twenty years behind us is just the beginning. Nikšić Guitar Festival continues to set new standards, connect people through art and build the future of classical guitar in the region and beyond," concluded the artist who has performed in prestigious concert halls around the world, numerous festivals, has numerous awards behind him, and now, as a pedagogue, creates young guitarists who are slowly conquering concert podiums.
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