Harpist
Tijana Kozarcic, born and educated in Novi Sad, Serbia, holds a Masters in Music Studies in Harp from the Faculty of Music Art in Belgrade under the instruction of Prof. Ljiljana Nestorovska where she also finished her Bachelor studies.
Tijana also completed her second Masters of Music degree at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane under the instruction of Professors Sebastien Lipman and Sayo Lipman. For her studies at Queensland Conservatorium she was awarded the Griffith University incentive bursary at the commencement of her studies.
In Australia Tijana has performed extensively as a solo, orchestral and chamber musician. As a soloist, she has performed the Debussy’s Danse Sacree et Profane with the Revision Orchestra (2018) and Handel’s Harp Concerto as a soloist with the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra (2016), as well as a soloist in concerts organised by the Harp Society of Queensland. She has also performed Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro with the Next Generation Artists of the Southern Cross Soloists (2018).
She is a casual Harpist with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO), and has performed in several of their Maestro series, including an Australian premiere of Philip Glass’ Symphony no. 11, and in their collaboration with the Royal Ballet, the Bolshoi Ballet, La Scala Ballet and Queensland Ballet. She has also performed as Principal Harpist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO).
She teaches a harp class at St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School in Corinda, Brisbane, and at St Peter’s Lutheran College, as well as privately. She is the President of the Harp Society of Queensland, as well as the leader of the Society’s Harp Ensemble.
While she was studying in Serbia, she held solo recitals in cities throughout Serbia and performed at numerous festivals such as The Music Summer of Novi Sad (Novosadsko muzičko leto), The Danube Sonata in Novi Sad, Night of the Museums (held annually across Serbian cities), the World Music Day, and at International Congresses, both as a soloist and as part of chamber ensembles. She performed at the 20th anniversary of the Privrednik Foundation at the National Theatre of Serbia in Novi Sad.
She has participated in a variety of workshops, including for contemporary music organised by the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, and Hochschule für Musik Hans Eisler and the Institut für neue Musik Klangzeitort, Berlin. She performed a piece composed by Florian Wessel called “für fir” in an ensemble with piano, double bass and bass clarinet. She has also taken masterclasses and lessons from some of the world’s most prominent professors, including Anna Loro and Elisabeth Fountan Binoche, Jana Bouškova, Catrin Finch, Şirin Pancaroğlu, Monika Stadler and Remy van Kesteren.
After graduating with her Bachelor degree in 2015, Tijana held her first professional solo concert at the Egység Chateau, a prestigious concert venue in Novi Sad. In 2016 she received the Youth Heroes Award in the field of Culture and Arts. Tijana has been recorded solo for the Radio-Television Station of Vojvodina, Serbia, and has performed in many radio and television shows live.
In 2015 she performed as a soloist at the 14th International Belgrade Harp Festival with the Borislav Pašćan Youth Philharmonic, where she played Debussy’s Danse Sacreé et Danse Profane.
In 2014 Tijana was chosen to be one of 24 harpists from across the world to perform as a soloist at the Focus on Youth Concerts as part of the 12th World Harp Congress in Sydney, Australia.
Tijana has participated in many competitions in Serbia and internationally. Her most notable awards include First Place in the Festival of Music Schools in Serbia in 2004 and in the Republic (of Serbia) Competition in 2008. At the Second and Third International Competitions of the Society of Harpists of Slovenia in 2010 and 2013 Tijana received the Golden Plaque on both occasions. In March 2011 Tijana won the First Place and title of Laureate at the Second Harp Festival of Vojvodina. Tijana has also participated at various other competitions including the Petar Konjović International Competition in Serbia and the International Harp Competition of Szeged in Hungary.
Tijana finished her primary and secondary musical education under the instruction of Prof. Željka Sponza at the Isidor Bajić School of Music in Novi Sad, Serbia. During her schooling she had many solo concerts throughout Serbia. In 2008 she performed at the ceremonial concert to commemorate the 130th anniversary of the Isidor Bajić School of Music. During her primary and secondary music school studies, Tijana collaborated with the choir “Bajićevi slavuji” (Bajić’s Nightingales) on educative concerts.
In 2015, upon graduating with her Bachelor Degree, Tijana was a nominee for Valedictorian for her graduating class. Tijana received several scholarships for her studies in Serbia. The first, granted by the Republic of Serbia, is a Scholarship for Gifted students. The second is granted by the Humanitarian Foundation Privrednik. Tijana was also awarded the prestigious Dositeja Scholarship, which is awarded to the top 800 students in their final year of study in Serbia.
