The long-awaited first string festival A String Fest will begin on September 5 at 8 p.m. in the concert hall of Banski dvor in Banja Luka, while part of the accompanying program will be held at the Milanović House.
This festival of string music and education was born as the realized dream of Milica and Đorđe Milovanović, an artistic couple who wanted to create a space where music is not only performed but truly lived.
The festival celebrates string music through concerts, workshops, and masterclasses, blending tradition with contemporary expression. It is open to all who love music and want to enjoy the timeless beauty of strings, learn from professionals, and together build a musical future.
Milica Milovanović said the initial spark came during their visit to Cremona, the birthplace of Stradivari, where the world festival of string instruments is held.
“The moment we decided to create this festival was last year in Cremona. We made many contacts and met inspiring people there, and that experience convinced us to establish a festival of our own,” said Milovanović.
The program is rich and spans three days:
- Opening concert (Sept 5, 8 p.m., Banski dvor) – Festival Quartet: Miloš Petrović (violin, Serbia/Germany), Ivan Knežević (violin, Serbia/Germany), Đorđe Milovanović (viola, Serbia/Republika Srpska), and Karolina Buser (cello, Germany). Through three compositions, the audience will experience a journey from classicism to modernity, from play to tragedy, and from the past to the universal expression of human experience.
- Sept 6, 10 a.m., Banski dvor – Concert for babies: students of the Academy of Arts in Banja Luka perform Beethoven’s Piano Trio in B-flat major, Op. 11 and Josef Mysliveček’s Trio in G major. Banski dvor will be specially adapted to provide a safe and pleasant environment for the youngest audience and their parents.
- Sept 6, 8 p.m. – Duo IC Strings (Ivan Knežević, violin, and Karolina Buser, cello) will perform works from various epochs and regions of Europe, recreating the sound of a string quartet with just two musicians.
- Sept 7 – closing concert: Eastern European Bass Ensemble, formed in 2021, featuring five double bassists (Jošt Lampret, Stevan Jovanović, Urban Čefarin, Nejc Klun, and Veljko Stanković). Their repertoire combines Balkan arrangements with traditional and sacred melodies of Eastern Europe, inspired by the works of Stevan Mokranjac.
Workshops at the Milanović House
- Thomastik-Infeld workshop (Sept 6, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.): practical advice for professional musicians and students on improving sound quality, maintenance, and adjustments of string instruments.
- The art of making and restoring string instruments (Sept 6, 6 p.m.): led by Nikola Brinel, focusing on craftsmanship and restoration techniques.
Source: Glas Srpske
