 As war engulfed ex-Yugoslavia, many musicians fled Bosnia. An ages-old inter-cultural heritage was nearly destroyed. In 2005, the Sarajevo Music Academy called on Musicians without Borders to help renew that heritage by supporting wind music education throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina. Specifically, the Academy stressed the need for advanced education in oboe and saxophone. Musicians without Borders responded. In partnership with the world-renowned Netherlands Blazers Ensemble (NBE), MwB organized and implemented a program of master classes, coaching and performances, culminating in joint student-NBE concerts during Sarajevo’s summer festival, Bašcaršijske Noci. MwB’s Sarajevo office and NBE soloists Irma Kort (oboe) and Willem van Merwijk (saxophone) spearhead the project, which has now expanded to include academies and secondary music schools in five cities.
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In July, 2006, the entire NBE traveled to Bosnia to perform in Sarajevo’s historic and partially restored old library. Offerings included their celebrated interpretation of Mozart’s Gran Partita and a spectacular ‘family concert’ featuring nearly half of the 25 students who had participated in the master classes during the year. In 2007, the project saw more coaching, recitals, and master classes. In addition, MwB has arranged a unique cooperation between the Music Academies of Sarajevo and Banja Luka in opening a new “joint” oboe department, training the first professional oboists in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
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more information:
Laura Hassler, 