History of the ,,Voice of Belgrade”

Belgrade has very rich choral tradition and outstanding choirs that bring Serbia nowadays highest recognitions from many international choral competitions and as such, deserves a respectable international choral festival! "Voice of Belgrade" was conceived and designed in such a way that would make citizens of Serbia and Belgrade proud to have a grand international choral festival.

The idea of starting the festival "Voice of Belgrade” came to life in 2007 in the festival’s management’s people’s minds, who are choral singers themselves. It all started after two international tours of the male choir “Seraphim” from Zemun, in 2007 and 2009.

In the past two years, the male church choir "Seraphim" from Zemun, (whose members are the creators of this festival), had two very successful tours in Ukraine and Belarus, where the choir achieved the biggest success since the establishment of 2004. The choir won Grand Prix at the famous international choral festival in Minsk, in May 2009. The competition was remarkable - 45 choirs from 14 countries. Participating at these grand festivals inspired the singers from the mail choir Seraphim, they were encouraged and “blessed” with a new idea – to establish new international choral festival in Belgrade.

The idea was presented in 2009 to many distinguished music experts from the Faculty of Music in Belgrade and many renowned composers, conductors and singers in Serbia. They were all very enthusiastic and willing to help: through direct cooperation in the organization, participation in a professional jury and with signed written letters of support. The singers of the male church choir Seraphim, were fortunate to have Ms. Vera Milanković as a first and devoted contributor. Ms. Vera Milankovic is a recognized composer, pianist and a regular professor at the Faculty of Music, University of Belgrade, at the Department of Musical Pedagogy and Solfege. Her brilliant ideas and positive energy gave this festival a new impulse. Head, conductor and artistic director of Symphony Orchestra and Choir of Radio Television Serbia, Mr. Bojan Sudjic, also gave his professional support to the festival management in a form of a written recommendation.

In a short time the Organizing Committee was formed and the jury of seven members comprised. Mr. Marko Pesic, the conductor of the award-winning male choir Seraphim, became the artistic director of the festival, and several members of the choir formed the management of the new festival. Thus was born "Voice of Belgrade", the first International Choral Festival in Belgrade.