The return home, remembering Serbia

Hi all – Dan again here. I’m slowly working on getting this blog up to speed, and soon hopefully you’ll be hearing from not only me, but other members of the SO6 and maybe even some of our students from the Summer in Serbia Workshop.

Our week in Sombor reached a fever pitch of rehearsals, intensity and excitement, and culminated in a great concert of student works on Sunday night at the Sombor City Hall. The Mayor introduced us in perfect English (but I still had my chance, later on, to say to him: “Zaxtevem da vidim Gospodine grado nacil nika” (I demand to see the mayor!)) And the Season Quartet, who probably worked harder than any other performing ensemble in the world over the last ten days, gave eight world premieres (we had three students who did not submit a composition for this year.)

It was a smashing success, and we finished off the night dancing our booties off at the sublime Cafe del Sol, which was kept open in our honor until 3am.

Afterwards, the SO6 hit the road for a whirlwind tour of Serbia in full rock star style. First stop was Zrenjanin, where our five new pieces were performed at the Cultural Center, along with compositions by our American student, James Call, and our Serbian student and (absolutely wonderful) host, Milan Aleksic. Milan then took us all out for a wondeful fish dinner, where his friends – a tamborashi group (Serbian folk music) – were waiting to serenade us all night long. It was really quite magical.

On Tuesday it was off, by van, to the lovely city of Novi Sad – Serbia’s second largest after Belgrade. We made it just in time for a press conference (!), and a short tour of the city and the Vojvodina Museum where our concert would be later that night. Aleksandra took special joy in sharing with us her home city, and it was indeed one well worth sharing.

Our concert in the courtyard of the museum (with absolutely stunning acoustices) was standing room only, with a heavy contingent of press. We were on Natioinal television, and apparently a documentary is being made about the South Oxford Six’s Serbian adventures.

More updates to follow – or perhaps more recollections from these amazing days. Already we are planning for next year, and the year after that, and the year after that…