World accordion champions arrive in Tivat

On June 6th and 7th, Tivat will host the 16th edition of the International Accordion Music Festival "Harmonika Fest", an event that over the past sixteen years has grown into one of the most important classical accordion festivals in the region and a recognized cultural event on the European music scene.

During the two festival days, on the stages of the Tivat Cultural Center and DTV "Partizan", around 150 competitors from several European countries, renowned university professors, prominent artists, educators and young talents will gather to present the contemporary achievements of the art of the accordion through a rich artistic, competitive and educational program.

Since its founding in 2010, Harmonika Fest has nurtured the idea of ​​presenting the accordion as an equal concert instrument of classical music, creating a space for top performers, scientists, professors and young musicians to meet. It is thanks to this vision that the festival has become a place where education, art, research and international cultural cooperation meet.

The festival's grand opening will be marked by a concert by three top artists – Jovica Đorđević from Serbia, Sergio Sapuna from Ukraine and Vitora Pastora from Portugal. The audience will have the opportunity to hear performers who are at the very top of the European scene today.

Of particular interest is the performance of Ukrainian artist Serhii Sapun, winner of the prestigious international competition "Trophée Mondial de l'Accordéon", one of the world's most important accordion competitions, while Portuguese virtuoso Vitor Pastor has an impressive series of international awards and the title of vice-champion of the "Coupe Mondiale", the world's largest accordion competition. The concert will be held on Saturday, June 6, starting at 21 p.m. on the Main Stage of the Tivat Cultural Center.

The second festival evening will be dedicated to young talents through the traditional concert "Young Montenegrin Accordion Scene", which presents the most successful accordion students from Montenegro. After their performances, the laureates and winners of this year's festival will be presented to the audience, and the program will end with a ceremonial awarding of diplomas, cups and cash prizes.

The festival's educational segment is of particular importance. This year's program includes a scientific lecture entitled "The Pedagogical and Artistic Thought of Friedrich Lips", dedicated to one of the most influential artists and pedagogues in the history of the contemporary accordion. The lecture will be given by distinguished experts prof. Radomir Tomic and professor Katja Pupovac.

The master class for pupils and students will be led by a full-time professor Vojin Vasovic from the Faculty of Philology and Arts, University of Kragujevac, whose accordion school has been achieving top results at the largest European and world competitions for decades.

The competition program will take place during both festival days in the disciplines of solo accordion, chamber music and orchestra, and the participants will be judged by an international expert jury composed of distinguished professors from music academies and renowned artists from the region and Europe.

"Harmonika Fest" today represents much more than a competition. It is an international platform for the exchange of knowledge, artistic experiences and professional contacts, a place where new generations of musicians are affirmed and the highest values ​​of artistic education are promoted.

Throughout its sixteen years of existence, the festival has significantly contributed to the international affirmation of Tivat and Montenegro as an important center of cultural and musical events, confirming that art remains one of the strongest bridges of cooperation between people and nations.

Welcome to the 16th International Accordion Festival "Harmonika Fest" - a place where knowledge, talent and top-notch art meet, say the organizers.

Harmonica Fest is organized by the NGO "Harmonika Montenegrina", in cooperation with the Tivat Cultural Center, which is also the general sponsor of the festival, the Municipality of Tivat, the Academy of Music of the University of Montenegro, the Ministry of Culture and Media, with the support of the Embassy of Serbia and the Embassy of Portugal. The founder and director of the festival is prof. Predrag Jankovic from the Academy of Music of the University of Montenegro.