Maja Popović in Dijon about the position of women in jazz

The president of the Jazz Art organization and the editor of the music program of the KIC “Budo Tomović”, Maja Popović, will participate in the meeting of the Jazz Network France Balkans (Réseau Jazz France Balkans), which will be held on May 14th and 15th in Dijon.

As part of the program, Popović will lead a conference on the topic of “The Presence of Women on the Jazz Scene”, which addresses the position and visibility of women in contemporary jazz, as well as the challenges and spaces for their greater inclusion in the music industry. The discussion will feature Dr. Jasna Jovićević, composer, saxophonist and researcher, Dr. Iva Nenić, assistant professor at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, and Andrew Reed, director of the Jazz in Europe platform, one of the most important jazz media in the English language.

The meeting is hosted by the city of Dijon, which also coordinates the France-Balkan Jazz Network project. The two-day gathering's program includes conferences, workshops and expert discussions dedicated to jazz, its development, the education of young musicians and the strengthening of international cooperation.

On the final day in Dijon, the France Balkan Jazz Band, an ensemble composed of young musicians from the network's member countries, will perform. They will work with mentors from France, Albania and North Macedonia during three days of workshops, and will perform compositions by French and Balkan authors at a concert. The performance is part of the annual event "D'Jazz dans la Ville".

The France Balkan Jazz Network was launched in 2019 with the support of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, with the aim of strengthening cultural and professional cooperation between France and the Balkan countries. The cities of Dijon and Chambery (France), Tirana and Korča (Albania), Podgorica (Montenegro), Niš (Serbia) and Bitola (North Macedonia) participate in the network.

The network's goals include developing cultural ties, exchanging musicians and students, supporting young authors, educational programs, and strengthening the role of women in jazz music, as well as promoting local scenes internationally. Activities so far have resulted in numerous artist exchanges, concerts, and recording joint music projects.