Marko Atanackovic

My name is Marko Atanacković and I was born in Serbia on the October, the 1st 1991.

All of my education was completed in Belgrade.

After primary school where I finished the piano department, I joined the High School of Music and graduated in 2010. The main subject was Solfeggio and the theory of music.

Apart from that, I was also attending jazz piano and musical production lessons in two other schools at that time.

I started studying at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, at the department of Composition and orchestration in 2011. My progress was followed by the youngest academic, Mrs. Isidora Žebeljan, one of the most famous composers in both the Balkans and the whole Europe.

Among other exams, I have learned pedagogy, psychology, scores, advanced piano lessons, harmony, musical form, counterpoint, etc.

During the course of my studies, the following pieces of mine were performed five times at large music festivals:

 

• Da imenuješ senke zvezda ( To name the shadows of stars) for soprano and the piano at the hall of Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, as a part of KoMA music festival, 2012
• Le Cygne ( The swan) for soprano, the piano, and a string quartet at the hall of Studentski Kulturni Centar, as a part of KoMA festival, 2013 – I also conducted the ensemble on this occassion
• Jesenje uspomene sa jezera ( Autumn memories from the lake ) for the oboe and the piano in Kragujevac, 2016
• Jesenje uspomene sa jezera ( Autumn memories from the lake ) for the oboe and the piano at the SASA[1] gallery, 2016
• Suvi šljivik ( Arid plum orchard ) for the flute, the horn, the harp and a string quartet ( graduation work ) and Kišna senka ( Rain shadow ) for the flute, the clarinet, the vibraphone, the harp and the piano at the hall of the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, 2016

My studies lasted for 4 years ( in our country Bachelor's studies last for 4 years, and Master's studies take 1 year).

I graduated with a GPA of 9,46 out of 10, as one of the best students of the generation.

During the studies, I was also singing in the University Choir and performed three times at Kolarac music hall.

As a pianist, I played at several concerts performing the following pieces – Rachmaninoff Moment Musicaux Op. 16 No. 4, Debussy Clair de Lune, Preludes and Scriabin preludes.

While studying I organized several projects, such as Evenings of syncretism for creative young people from different art fields such as:

Music, drama, photography, sculpture, art, etc. They were all able to exhibit or perform their own work there. I thought that this project would be a great opportunity for young artists to explore and expand their areas of work. I was inspired by one of Woody Allen’s movies – Midnight in Paris, in which all artists from that time spent time together, and shared their ideas.

Another high school passion of mine besides classical music is playing keyboards and popular music with music bands. I played different varieties of popular music – pop, rock, funk, jazz, Latin, etc.

During the course of 10 years of continuous playing with bands, I have played over 1500 gigs in pubs, clubs even concert halls. I have also played abroad – in Montenegro, Macedonia, Croatia, and Slovenia.

Last year (2017) I became the keyboard player in the band of Mrs. Aleksandra Radović, one of the most famous singers of today in Serbia. I have performed 10 concerts with her and appeared in one of her music videos.

This year I recorded two whole seasons of Luda noć (Crazy night), which is one of the best shows on Serbian National TV Station (RTS). I collaborated with a large number of well-known singers in that show.

After my graduation, I started teaching private lessons to young children and adults.

I am currently holding private piano and theory lessons.

I think that it is very important to learn about music through all different disciplines in it (harmony, melody, counterpoint, form, the history of music), and my own teaching method incorporates all of those elements.

First of all, I want to talk to you about what drives you when you listen to music, do you like soft piano tones that put you in a relaxing state, or you like energetic music? How do you connect with yourself when you touch the keys? Is music somehow a place when you feel safe?