The Accordion Department at the UNSA Music Academy of UNSA Celebrated 20th Aniversary
On 6 May 2025, the University of Sarajevo Music Academy held a concert marking the 20th anniversary of the Accordion Department, featuring several generations of accordionists. This festive event not only celebrated a significant milestone but was also dedicated to marking International Accordion Day.
Prior to the concert, there was an introductory lecture by Prof. Dr. Belma Šarančić, a prominent accordionist and professor at the UNSA Music Academy. She reflected on the founding, development, and achievements of the Accordion Program over the past two decades. She emphasized that during this period, a total of 22 students, through 350 concerts and participation in 35 international competitions with dozens of awards, have established and internationally recognized the Sarajevo accordion school, which uniquely blends Eastern and Western traditions.
Current students, as well as alumni students of the Accordion Program, performed as soloists and in chamber ensembles. Among them were Atif Krdžić and Hazim Mehmedić (class: Prof. Belma Šarančić and Assistant Azmir Halilović, MA), Bakir Kunić, Hanan Imamović, Aziz Mulahasanović, Kerim Smajlović, Ali Kovačević (Secondary Music School Sarajevo, class: Prof. Alen Hodžić), Lena Lukić and Viktor Krajina (Mladen Pozajić Elementary Music School, class: Prof. Raisa Šehu), Samedin Jugović and Nermin Omerhodžić (Elementary Music School “Novo Sarajevo,” Ilijaš branch, class: Prof. Iris Granulo/Izudin Rahić), Timur Sokolović (Elementary Music School “Novo Sarajevo,” class: Prof. Kaća Sarajlić), Ishak Sarač (Elementary Music School “Novo Sarajevo,” class: Prof. Himzo Karić), Tarik Mehmedović and Amar Mehić (Ilidža Elementary Music School, class: Prof. Sinan Ajkunić), and Almedina Mazalović (Kladanj Elementary School, class: Prof. Asmir Hamzić). They performed works by S. Prokofjev, F. Angelis, O. Strock, W. Meyer, V. Korčejov, C. Mahra, J. Derbenko, E. Derbenko, A. Đulijan, A. Pribilov, and D. Kosorić.
The celebration of this important anniversary was concluded with a performance by the Accordion Orchestra, which played “Enterier” by F. Angelis, arranged by accordionist and composer Kaća Sarajlić, followed by her composition “Fantazija 24.” As members of the orchestra, under the baton of Assistant Mr. Fuad Šestić, assistant at the Department of Conducting at the UNSA Music Academy and long-time collaborator of the Accordion Program, performed current students and alumni: Sinan Ajkunić (BA 2013), Anes Čolak (second year), Armin Džafić (second year), Iris Granulo (MA 2024), Azmir Halilović (Assistant MA 2019), Asmir Hamzić (MA 2022), Alen Hodžić (MA 2012), Vedad Husomanović (third year), Himzo Karić (BA 2010), Atif Krdžić (third year), Danijel Lovrić (MA 2020), Hazim Mehmedić (second year), Mihael Mucko (fourth year), Muharem Osmanagić (BA 2020), Emil Pilica (third year), Kaća Sarajlić (MA 2017), Tarik Šadić (BA 2013), Raisa Šehu (BA 2011), Safet Tahirović (MA 2024), Damir Vreva (second year), as well as Iman Bajramović Hergić (piano, fourth grade, class: Prof. Iva Pašić).
