Hailed by the critics as one of the most unique and expressive marimba and percussion artists in the field today, Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic has greatly influenced the international percussion scene during the last three decades – as both a masterful composer and virtuoso performer. A native from Serbia, Zivkovic completed his master’s degrees in composition, music theory and percussion in Mannheim and Stuttgart, Germany, where he has resided since 1980. Currently based in Vienna , Austria, he tours throughout Europe, and performs frequently in the USA, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Latin America, Russia and Scandinavian countries. Zivkovic performed in such prestigious venues as Vienna’s “Konzerthaus”, National Recital Hall Taipei, Munich’s Herkulessaal, St. Petersburg’s Eremitage Theatre, or Stockholm’s Nybrokajen. He was also guest of the number of Festivals such as Gaudeamus Amsterdam, Schleswig-Holstein Musikfestival, Dance-in-your-head, Minneapolis, USA and several times at PASIC (Percussive Arts Society Int. Convention) in USA.
As a soloist, mostly with his own marimba and percussion concertos, Zivkovic has performed with the Stuttgart Philharmonic, Munich Symphonic Orchestra, Bochum Philharmonic, Moscow Philharmonic, Hannover Radio Symphony, Bielefeld Philharmonic, Belgrade Philharmonic, Thessaloniki State Orchestra Greece, Osaka Festival Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra Costa Rica, Lithuanian State Symphony, Slovenian Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, Budapest Philharmonic, St. Petersburg Philharmonic to name but a few. Zivkovic’s marimba is “Stradivari” among the Marimbas: order made, one-of-the-kind instrument, made by YAMAHA in Japan especially for him. His creative output is captured on six compact discs of music for marimba and percussion, and at over a dozen CD’s including his compositions are recorded by other performers. Zivkovic is professor of percussion at Music and Arts University of the city of Vienna, Austria (former Vienna Conservatory) and also at University of Novi Sad, in his native country, Serbia.
Composer Zivkovic is today one of the worlds most performed composers for Percussion music. His works for marimba and percussion have set new performing standards, and his captivating and energetic performances have influenced generations of marimbists. Many of Zivkovic’s compositions (for example: Ilijas, Ultimatum1, Trio per uno ) have become standards in contemporary percussion repertoire world-wide. His symphonic works are performed by orchestras world wide such as the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, BBC Concert Orchestra, London, Orchestra di Santa Cecilia, Rome, The Nothern Sinfonia in Newcastle, UK or Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra.
He is frequently commissioned by many soloists, orchestras and institutions, including two commissions from the German Ministry of Culture (Rheinland-Pfalz and Baden-Württemberg). Recent years included commissions of Double Percussion concerto with Large Orchestra “Obsesiones”, percussion Trio “Sandy, the Hurricane”, solo marimba piece “Homo Balcanicus” last one in 2019 by Hamburg State Opera, for Percussion quartett. called “Credo in Unim Deum”. Beside his concert works, he has composed many compositions for younger players. Especially pieces from his “FUNNY MALLETS SERIES” have become some of the world’s most successful pedagogical works for mallets instruments.
Having established herself as a versatile multi-percussionist and marimba artist Aleksandra Šuklar´s playing is characterised by her excellent musicality, technique, temperament and sensitivity to any musical style; skills which all come together to form her own unique artistic approach. Her diverse musical language and genre-crossing performances range from classical works and contemporary compositions, all the way to film music and crossover projects.
Aleksandra’s engagements as soloist include performances in renowned concert halls such as the Wiener Musikverein, ORF- Radiokulturhaus , Deutsches Theater Berlin and at festivals like Rolex Arts Weekend, Wien Modern, Gustav Mahler Musikwochen, NOMUS Festival and Vienna Saxfest, to name a few.
Aleksandra Šuklar is a prizewinner of numerous national and international competitions across Europe (Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Austria,…) and was a laureate of the Fidelio Competition in the “ORF-Radiokulturhaus” Vienna in two consecutive years. She has been recognised by the Federal Chancellery of Austria as one of the most outstanding young artists living in Vienna and was consequently awarded with their scholarship.
She cooperates regularly with various ensembles and orchestras including the Symphony Orchestra of Vienna State Opera, ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna, Synchron Stage Orchestra, the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, RTV-Slovenian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Anima Musicae Chamber Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Kontrapunkte, Zagreb Soloists and Vienna Chamber Orchestra.
Born in a family of musicians, Aleksandra’s musical education began at the age of 5 when she started her violin lessons in Novi Sad, Serbia. After moving to Slovenia, she began her percussion lessons at the age of 11 and later on continued her studies in Vienna, Austria. In 2016 she graduated from the Music and Arts University of the city of Vienna in the class of prof. Nebojša Jovan Živković receiving a Bachelor and Master of Arts degree.
In recent years Aleksandra has been touring arenas worldwide and collaborating with the internationally celebrated film music composer Hans Zimmer as part of his band of soloists in “Hans Zimmer Live” and “The World of Hans Zimmer”.
Her curiosity and creativity has enabled her to lead a fulfilling musical life: from regular recordings from her studio for Hollywood Productions including companies such as “Netflix”, “DreamWorks” and ” Warner Bros”, where she has recently recorded Soundtracks for Movies “Sponge Bob”, “Dune” and “The Creator”, to Solo-Performances, Masterclasses and collaborations with some of the most inspiring musicians of our time.
Aleksandra Šuklar plays Yamaha and is artist at Pearl drums, Meinl Percussion, Meinl Cymbals, and Schlagkraft mallets.
Percussionist Jože Bogolin completed his master’s degree at Hochschule fűr Theater und Musik Munchen in the class of dr. prof. Peter Sadlo. He is a member of the internationally renowned duo DRUMARTICA. Since 2011 he has been working as a professor at the Ljubljana Conservatory of Music and Ballet.