Role

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Composer  

Birth

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in Belgrade, Serbia

 

Marta Brankovich is a Serbian-American composer, pianist, and educator. She was born on December 22, 1989, in Belgrade, Serbia. Brankovich grew up in a family of musicians, with her mother being a pianist and her father a composer. She started playing the piano at the age of four and began composing her own music at the age of six. Brankovich's early musical education was at the Music School "Mokranjac" in Belgrade, where she studied piano and composition. She continued her studies at the University of Arts in Belgrade, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Composition. During her studies, Brankovich won several awards for her compositions, including the First Prize at the International Competition for Young Composers in Belgrade. In 2012, Brankovich moved to the United States to pursue a Master's degree in Composition at the University of Michigan. She studied with Michael Daugherty, Kristin Kuster, and Bright Sheng. During her time at the University of Michigan, Brankovich won the prestigious Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship, which allowed her to continue her studies at the university and focus on her compositions. Brankovich's music is influenced by her Serbian heritage and her experiences living in the United States. Her compositions often combine elements of classical music with folk music and incorporate electronic sounds. Brankovich's music has been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. One of Brankovich's most notable works is her Piano Concerto No. 2, which was commissioned by the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra and premiered in 2016. The concerto is a tribute to Brankovich's mother, who passed away in 2014. The piece is divided into three movements, each representing a different stage of grief. The concerto has been praised for its emotional depth and virtuosic piano writing. Another notable work by Brankovich is her String Quartet No. 2, which was commissioned by the Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings and premiered in 2018. The quartet is inspired by the Serbian folk song "Kad ja pođoh na Bentbašu" and incorporates elements of traditional Serbian music. The piece has been praised for its inventive use of rhythm and melody. Brankovich's music has also been featured in film and television. Her piece "The Last Lullaby" was featured in the film "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2019. Her music has also been featured in the television series "The Handmaid's Tale" and "The Blacklist." In addition to her work as a composer, Brankovich is also an educator. She has taught composition and music theory at the University of Michigan and the University of California, Los Angeles. Brankovich is also a co-founder of the Belgrade New Music Festival, which showcases contemporary music from Serbia and around the world. Brankovich's music has been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 2019, she was awarded the Charles Ives Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. The fellowship is awarded to young composers who have demonstrated exceptional talent in their work. Brankovich was also named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Music in 2020 for her piece "Stone Upon Stone." In conclusion, Marta Brankovich is a talented composer whose music combines elements of classical music and folk music.

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