Festivals are the best way to promote songs and talents, and Montenegro has been a hotbed of young artists for decades thanks to the Golden Snowflake and Our Joy festivals. Last year, they were joined by the Cattaro Junior Festival, the first of its kind on the coast, which immediately attracted attention, so expectations for this year are high and should be justified.
"These expectations are both a motive and a responsibility. Last year, we proved that the coast has an audience, authors and children who want and can participate in a serious children's music festival. It seems to me that with the launch of Cattaro Junior, the story of children's festivals in Montenegro, but also beyond, has been somehow rounded off and that today all regions are represented, and all children from Montenegro and the region are welcome. Year after year, we do not look for a bigger festival, but for a better system, with clearer rules, better selection, improved production and a healthier relationship with children and parents. That is precisely why this year we have especially improved the development system within the festivals that we implement within the framework of the NGO Ad Infinitum. We are not talking just about one performance or one award, but about continuity and meaningful progress of children through music," he says in an interview for "Vijesti". Steven Faddy, artistic director of the festival.
He points out that the best performers from last year's Cattaro Junior have a direct place in this year's edition.
"We are going a step further, because in the higher age category, children gain the right to direct placement at Cattaro Teen the following year. From the Teen Festival, in addition to the awards and the Grand Prix as the crowning achievement of the festival, there is also a special development award that includes direct placement at the Regional Music Festival Pearl of the Adriatic. It is not always easy to justify the expectations that grow from year to year, but I believe that the most important thing is that the children who stay and perform at our festivals, together with their parents, feel the meaning and value of everything we do. That is always above all else for us," emphasizes Faddy.
After the successful Cattaro Junior, this year they are launching another festival, this time Cattaro Teen. The teenage period is often particularly challenging, as young people are searching for themselves, and when asked if they are trying to motivate them to pursue music with this festival, he answers:
"Cattaro Teen has been part of our system since the very beginning, but it was important to us to first lay a healthy foundation through Cattaro Junior. Only when you have a stable foundation can you seriously and responsibly think about the teenage segment. The teenage period is the most sensitive, because young people are in a kind of in-between space. They are no longer children, and they are not yet adults. That is precisely why we believe it is important to have a space that does not push them too early into the adult world, but does not treat them as children either. Cattaro Teen is conceived as a natural stepping stone between a children's festival and the professional music scene," explains the interlocutor of "Vijesti" and adds that their goal is not to direct or limit them, but to give them a safe and professional framework in which they can express themselves and be taken seriously.
"It is especially important to us that the judging and evaluation segment is entrusted to professionals from the world of music and television, and that, as with Junior, nothing is left to chance. Ultimately, our desire is to offer young people a festival and a space that they will be able to call 'their own' year after year, regardless of where they come from. A place that encourages them, in what may be their most sensitive period, to stay in music and develop through culture and art," adds Faddy, who is sure that participation in such festivals is extremely important and interesting for teenagers.
"We feel this through direct conversations with the young generation of musicians in Montenegro, but also in the region, as well as through feedback from children, parents and authors who have been between systems for years. It is important for them to know that someone sees and experiences them seriously, and this is exactly what our development system provides them. Cattaro Teen offers them a realistic and clear level of growth, not only through festival appearances, but also through longer-term development. The 18+ category is particularly important, because it represents a bridge between youth creativity and the professional music scene. It is in this category that young authors and performers get the opportunity to present themselves in a serious production and media framework," he emphasizes, and reminds that one of the Cattaro Teen participants (18+) receives a direct placement at the regional music festival Biser Jadrana.
"In this way, in addition to the Grand Prix as the crowning achievement of the festival, young people are given an additional, clearly defined and honest path to the big stage, without shortcuts and improvisation. Teen is interesting to them precisely because we are not trying to push them into the world of adults too early, but we are not treating them like children either. We offer them a space in which they have freedom of expression, with clear boundaries and a professional framework. In addition, through cooperation with media partners, young people gain an additional sense of visibility and continuity," explains Faddy.
It is not easy to make a selection, especially considering that music for children and young people today often approaches music for adults, especially in arrangements and production.
"That's why our selection is not based solely on sound, but equally on lyrics, message and age appropriateness. Our goal is not to meet the quota at all costs, but to maintain the standard. We would rather have fewer songs than compromise at the expense of children. Last year, we relied heavily on the selection committee and the responsibility of the authors towards their own work, and I believe we were not wrong. The comments from people from the world of music, as well as members of the expert jury, were extremely positive, especially in terms of arrangements and production. In this segment, the organizer can influence to a certain extent, and that level was satisfactory last year," believes Faddy, promising that he will not allow the world of children's music to mix with production models intended for adults, and that the line must remain clear and responsibly guarded.
The competition for Cattaro Junior has already been announced, while for Cattaro Teen it starts today, and, according to Faddy, interest is already high, both from Montenegro and the region.
"In the first few days, we have already received applications and announcements that confirm that there is a need for such festivals, but also that the authors recognize the seriousness and clarity of the concept we are building. What we particularly insisted on this year, and what I consider to be crucial for the quality of both Cattaro Junior and Cattaro Teen, is a clearly defined number of participants. The festival will have 15 compositions, of which the selection committee will choose 13, while two places are reserved for the best performers from the previous edition, who have a direct placement. These are Din Ćehović in the category of five to nine years and Lucija Saulaičić in the 10 to 13 year old category, from whom we expect quality new songs," Faddy reminds us, adding that this year's Cattaro Junior also has a distinctly international character, with announcements from authors from Slovenia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Croatia.
"However, it is extremely important to us that, alongside international participants, our children are also strongly represented, both in the Junior and Teen categories, because that is the essence of everything we do," Faddy points out.
He admits that now that they have open competitions for two festivals, the process is more complex than last year, but that he will not leave anything to chance.
"We see this level of responsibility and attention as the basis for the festival's further growth," he claims.
This year, Cattaro Junior will take place on June 6th and 7th at the Summer Stage in the Old Town of Kotor, while Cattaro Teen will precede it.
"It is a production challenge, but also a great beauty, considering the ambiance, the importance of the scene itself and the possibility for a large number of spectators to see the festival. The festival is being implemented with the support of the local government, the Municipality of Kotor, the Secretariat for Culture and Sports, the Cultural Center, the Kotor Tourist Organization, as well as the Ministry of Culture and Media of Montenegro. All children who pass the selection will be provided with accommodation, with an additional social educational segment in cooperation with our partners Golden Wave from Kotor, through a tour of the Bay of Kotor and introducing guests to the cultural heritage of this area. Cattaro Teen will be held on June 4th and 5th, with our program partner Discoteka Maximus, which will be the urban center of a modern music event for young people during that period. All accompanying content, including accommodation and educational program, also applies to Teen participants. The festival is being implemented with the support of PAM Montenegro, as well as numerous other partners who recognize the importance of investing in youth and authorial creativity," concludes Faddy.
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