Vojislav Ivanovic
“...keen intelligence allied to a refreshing musical sensibility...”
(Colin Cooper, “Classical Guitar” London)
Music of Vojislav Ivanovic, world renowned guitarist and composer, has been described by critics, amongst other, as "superbly written" and "indescribable but indescribably delicious". His unique style, which utilizes elements of contemporary classical, traditional and jazz music is being said to "have an organic plasticity to it that expresses hundred percent life experience".
He studied guitar with Darko Petrinjak and later with Costas Cotsiolis with whom he graduated, and composition with Vojin Komadina,
Both as a guitarist and a composer he was awarded various national and international prizes and distinctions. As a soloist and in collaboration with various artists and orchestras he has performed extensively throughout former Yugoslavia, Russia and Europe.
His diverse compositional output includes music for solo instruments, chamber music, concertos, choral and orchestral works, and music for film, theatre and TV.
Vojislav's most notable works are: 6 Cafe Pieces for Guitar, Sonata for Guitar and English Concerto for guitar and strings, performed around the world by many distinguished players, most notably by Denis Azabagic and Zoran Dukic, 4 Songs on Poetry of E. A. Poe for guitar percussion, strings and mezzosoprano.
In the field of traditional, improvised and jazz music, both as a composer and a performer, he played and recorded with many internationally renowned artists such as Arild Andersen, Paolo Fresu, Paul Wertico and Milos Petrovic. Since 2008 he performes intensively with Levante Guitar Duo, with his wife Aleksandra Ivanovic, playing his music and arrangements for guitar duo.
His music in many different genres has been released on over 20 cd recordings and is being published by editions Chanterelle and Doberman-Yppan.
Currently he is teaching guitar at the Music Academy of East Sarajevo.
Aleksandra Ivanovic, guitar
"...truly unique voice of Aleksandra Ivanovic..." (M.Ramicevic, Sarajevo)
Aleksandra accomplished her graduate and master degree in guitar with the highest marks at the Belgrade Music Academy with Vera Ogrizovic, She started playing piano at the age of six and after graduating she studied jazz singing for a while, but eventually turned to classical guitar. She won prizes at several national and international competitions amongst which are Niksic International Guitar Festival 2007, Guitar-Art summer fest, Herceg Novi 2008. Also she participated in master classes with famous guitarists Anielo Desiderio, Scot Tennant and Dusan Bogdanovic. She has been noted by audiences and critics alike, for her delicate and emotional performing, specially for the performances of new works by Vojislav Ivanovic which led to foundation of Levante Guitar Duo.
"Serbian duo with excellent Aleksandra Ivanovic and composer Vojislav Ivanovic showed extraordinary blend of sharp Balkan rhythms and sophisticated, masterly musicianship in the spirit of European classical music.." (Deutsche Algemeine Zeitung)