User:Sofijazz

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Sofija Knezevic

Born 02.04.1990. in Belgrade, Serbia. Coming from an artistic family Knezevic ( famous painters ). After 2 years at the music school `Dr.Vojislav Vuckovic` they transferred her as a very talented young student to the school `Mokranjac`where she finished her both primary and secondary education in the class of professor Jasna Vukasovic at the Classical Piano Performance department,as well as the department for Theory in Music in the class of Professor Radmila Starcevic. Since she was always interested in Jazz, together with finishing those two departments in Mokranjac she was finishing another high school program at the Jazz Singing department in `Stankovic`. She was awarded the title of The Best Pianist among all the candidates from countries of Eastern Europe she finished the exams for the final year of regular primary school in ahead of schedule – in one month total – because she has enrolled secondary music school ``Mokranjac`` in the previous year. That`s why she was already 1 year ahead of her class. On the IQ test, and Musical IQ test she was the only one with the above average for the regular IQ, and one of 2 people with above average results for the Musical IQ.

She finished her secondary schools a year earlier the same way like she did with her primary school, because she was  one of the 2 accepted singers from around 300 at the entrance examination at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz (Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst),  Austria, one of the best universities in the world for Jazz music. She was aceepted as a young 16,5 year old talent, the youngest student in the history of the University.

Since she was 7 she was performing around Europe, with a group `Kolibri` as a soloist, and in a group of singers. Favorised by Milica Manojlovic who was personally interested in making Sofija a great performer, Sofija performed at many large venues,churches,festivals,halls in Italy, Slovenia and many countries more. She had numerous performances in her hometown Belgrade with Kolibri,10 concerts in Kolarac, 4 in Sava Centar, 4 at the National Theater, National Museum,galeries and more. As well as performing in castles and churches very important for the history of music like Studenica,Fruskogorski Manastiri etc.

While she was still in the primary school she won many awards at numerous competitions in many subjects ( history, drawing, literature, languages(Greek,Serbian,English,Spanish,German) biology, reciting ). As a multitalented child she was always coming home with a first price. While being still in primary school she was the editor in chief of the Magazine `Vuk`. At the same time she was involved in the parlament of Education and she worked with many well known people in culture in Stari Grad.

With all those competitions,writing and playing piano at the age of 12 she won a price `Golden Mermaid` for the best young singer in the country. And also the next year as a leader of the vocal group that she put together for the next competition. With her groups including Kolibri and Krsmanovic, she recorded several cd`s that were published by RTS Records. And also filmed for the New Year program for the national TV.

Since she was one of the five kids in her family she was raised to help and give to the charities. So she ran the track many times, and was involved in many charity events for the Red Cross Organization. At the same time she had a debut of her Musical Play written for Romeo and Juliet in English language that took place at the Oldest Theater Hall in Belgrade,Serbia when she was 13 years old. A few month after that she organized a show in Nakovo,Vojvodina for the kids moving to another city to continue their education. Attendance on that show was unbelievably huge. And it was made of a several competitions in music,dance,quizz and retorical abilities competition.

After finishing the 8th grade of her primary education in one month, with the support of the pianist family Sandorov she continues her schooling in Mokranjac, where besides attending those 2 departments she leads the choir and records 2 CD`s for RTS. Since they recorded arrangements of Serbian Folk songs it caught a lot of media attention, so she did many interviews and shows connected with those CD`s. During that time she also sang in the choir of international conductor Jana Minov, and they won a 1st price at the world choir competition in Shangai. She also sang with her best friend and a composer Stefan Djokovic at the Junior Eurovision contest. She was a part of a spectacle happening on the anniversary of Mozart`s death in Sava Centar, and also sang in the play `Who Is Afraid Of Virginia Woolf`.

She was one of the 7 actors in the movie `NASCENCY` filmed about her family ( by Vlada Perovic ).And that movie won a several documentary competitions including the big award in Cezch Republic. Sofija was also a part of another family creation, making the first Mural in Bar, Montenegro when she was 6 years old (Barski Ljetopis Festival). Sofija played classical piano on over 20 concerts, exhibitions and many other public events. Interested in computers in technology, she won a 1st price at the informatics competition in her high school.

In her first year of jazz studies in Stankovic she is singing at the concert on the Public Square for the celebration of a national holiday with Jelena Jovovic,Brazillian Affair,Girls from Imapanema,Beogradski Sindikat. She was a part of the famous jazz matinee`s at the Kalemegdan Castle.

While being in 2 high schools at 4 departments,she attended many workshops including the one with a couple of worlds best percussionists in Bitef Theater, which were followed with the concerts at the same venue. Also during that time she had a chance to teach international visiting students with the National Musicians Organisation. And that CD is recorded for NMO.

As we already know, she was involved in many charity events, therefore she held 2 big concerts in Mokranjac for 2 teenagers that needed urgent help for the heart surgery. And also the concert in Sava Centar for the homeless children.

With the same program she held concerts in Stankovic Hall, SKC Hall. Where she met Stjepko Gut and Aria Hendricks ( Jon Hendrick`s daughter ) where she sang with them in jazz club `Ptica`. After that she is leaving to Novi Sad to sing with Sheila Jordan on the Jazz festival 2006, after which she is singing with Eddie Henderson and his band. Few days after that she is singing at the concert with Peter Herbolzheimer that was organized by Goethe Insitut, with international musicians, that show was recorded live and was showed worldwide.

At the end of her 2nd year of her jazz studies, she was invited to sing at the opening of the biggest jazz club in Belgrade, Dizzy`s. Where she sang with Serbian most important jazz musicians. That year (2007) she begins her studies as the youngest student in the history of the university. And in the first few months she entered the audition for the MMJAZZ FESTIVAL in Austria, and passed it with the highest score.After wich she performed with Chaka Khan`s band, and that performance is recorded and filmed for ORF. Right after that concert in St.Poelten she wrote an arrangement for her first recital at the university for the song `Shiny Stockings` arranged for nonet. And it had a huge success.

During the summer of 2008. in the cooperation with University of Arts in Serbia, she performs on the international project MUSIC MATTER VIBRATION in JDP, with Michelangelo Lupone, Luigi Picaleo, Carlo Laurenzi and Jean Jeffreau. That performance is recorded and kept in the Italian Embassy. The performance included playing instruments, acting, dancing, composing and singing. After that event Italian ambassador decided to finance the opening of a jazz department at the University of Music in Belgrade, since there was no one.

November 2008. with international musicians Zvonimir Sestak, Tuomo Uusitalo, Lubos Brtan and Piotr Pawlak she performs in Slovakia at Bratislava`s biggest Jazz Club. December 2008. she had to big concerts, 1st one is the Vocal Night concert in Wist,Graz and the other one is a Christmas Concert with Sigi Feigl Big Band also in Wist. After the succesful summer school cooperation University of Serbia and Stari Grad sponsored a big concert in Djura Jaksic House in Belgrade.Where she performed with Ivan Ilic, Milan Stanisavljevic, Jani Sepetavec and Ivan Maksimovic. In february/march she went on a tour with Don Menza well known saxophone player,composer and arranger (Pink Panther Theme) and Sigi Feigl Big Band performing in several cities on a several concerts.Right before the tour she held a concert for the Opening of the Austrian new Railway. End of march beginning of April Sofija had a chance to work with a singer from NewYork Sandy Cressman who sings Brazilian jazz, and is very well educated about their language and culture.They had a concert together on the 26th of March in Graz, together with Juan Garcia Herreros. May/June 2009. Sofija works with a Finnish group of musicians, and went on a tour with them in the upper Austria exploring new modern kinds of music mixed with jazz and funk. After coming back to Graz she performed at the opening of the New Concert Hall Mumuth in Graz, with Edward Anthony Partyka`s Big Band and Lena Mentschel.

July 2009. she proudly presents her duo music with Yvonne Bruger in the Bad Goisern at the human rights charity event, where they asked her to teach at the University stunned by her talent and ambition. Unfortunately too busy to stay there and teach,she had to go back to Serbia and record a CD with Flamez Shop in the studio of Vladimir Rackovic and then gets into a contact with him and sing with his famous Belgrade Dixieland Orchestra at several festivals such as Bojcinsko Kulturno Leto and Gardoske Letnje Svecanosti. At the same time, she works with producers like Petar Cvetkovic, Dusan Kacarevic, James Rockie, Marvin Stitt, and some more. During the recordings she performs almost every night in a Jazz&Blues Club Plek.

After getting back to Austria she is starting to sing with a jazz latin band SWAY, with which she`s winning the 1st price on the EMERGENZA Band Festival, 1st price on Austrian Band Competition, and Replugged Band Competition. November 2009. Sofija works with Derrick Gardner, Charles Davis and Ed Soph. In december she goes on a tour with Tuomo Uusitalo,Felipe Oliveira,Juraj Rasi and Lubos Brtan.Performing at the international Modern Music Festival in Lyptovsky Mikulas and some concerts more including one in Brooklyn. End of december she sings with a KUG JAZZ choir in Wist and in Capparri. After which she performs with a Big Band on the 18th of January 2010. Also with a support of Mary Frances Lubahn, Milan Opera singer she performs at several classical concerts singing opera arias. All these years of performing she did many interviews, and most of them are recorded.Including the one with Katarina Epstein for Radio Beograd 1 – Afternoon Mood, two shows. And the one for BETA RFI that was recorded a few years before that, and played every year internationally.

During her first 3 years of the university she worked with a unique free jazz vocal ensemble and performed with the same ensemble at many venues around Europe (Wist, Postgarage, Kug...) And at the same time worked with Barre Philips, John Abercrombie, Adam Nussbaum,Billy Hart,Jerry Bergonzi, Dave Santoro,Bob Brookmeyer.

She also worked with many famous jazz musicians since she was 14 like: Jelena Jovovic, Shawn Monteiro, Christian McBride, Terence Blanchard, Ambrose Akinmusire, Fritz Pauer, Jason Moran, Jeff Ballard, David Murray, Rob Bargad, Michael Kahr, Roberto Quintero, Wayne Darling, Annette Giesriegl, Jay Clayton, Sheila Cooper, Sheila Jordan, Dena DeRose, Kevin Mahogany, Nasheet Watts, Taurus Mateen, Fred Hersch, Luis Bonilla, Jim Rotondi, Jim McNeely and many others.

Beginning of the year 2010. she performes her famous arrangement `Disney Medley` for a septet.That concert was followed by a performance in jazz club `Miles` that she dedicated to Horace Silver`s music since he is one of her biggest influences where she presented another famous arrangement of hers with Horace Silver`s tunes. She wrote lyrics to more than 30 Horace Silver`s songs.

Spring 2010. she was invited by an English composer and pianist Veryan Weston to join an international a cappella group `VOCIFEROUS` together with him ,Annette Giesriegl, Siruan Kueng, Anush Apoyan, Iris Ederer, Dorothea Jaburek, Patrik Thurner and Franz Schmuck. They all performed together the composition byt Veryan Weston called `Tessalations 2` at the jazz festival in Graz `Singers and Voices` on the stage with Norma Winston. The same set-up performed in Weiz at the `Choir Fire` Festival,where she also performed with the KUG Jazz Choir the same night.

June 2010. she sings with a well-known band `The Jazz Passengers` in `Our Little Theater`. At the same time she got and invitation to perform at the NewYork Fashion Week for the Elie Saab Show. July 2010. she is invited to sings at the opening of the Brazilian Cultural Center in Belgrade with guitarist Andreja Stankovic from Amsterdam. September 2010. she goes on a tour in England with VOCIFEROUS. They perform at numerous venues in several cities including London,Welwyn Garden City,St. Albans etc. They also had a pleasure of performing with and amazing pianist Leo Svirsky and the percussion ensemble Welwyn Hatfield Ethnic Minority Group. The whole concert was filmed and it is going to be published during 2011. on a Documentary Film Festival in UK. She also records her cd with Vociferous in the Pinewood Studios in BBC. That CD is later released in spring 2011. for the EMANEM RECORDS.

After the tour, she is coming back to Serbia to perform in jazz club Wheels and Izba in Novi Sad, and also records an album with a producer Medicine Man,that is going to be released later (spring 2011) for the EXIT label.

Winter 2010. she is in Graz in her last years of jazz studies, she there works with Charenee Wade and Kevin Mahogany. After that she got a chance to work with Jason Moran and the Bandwagon first at the Belgrade Jazz Festival then at the VIP Jazz Festival in Zagreb, and she composes and records a tune with Moran. And the same night famous saxophonist David Murray recognizes her great talent and asks her to sing with him `at least one tune`. From september 2010. she is starting to work for a Film Festival Beldocs on 3 positions Marketing Manager,Public International Relations and as a Stylist and a host for the Festival in Cannes. Modeling for the fashion magazines,ads,and comercials. Won the first price in a photography and photoshop competition in the `SMASHING MAGAZINE` ,she did many exhibitions with her photo work and also as a painter and designer. Sofija also designed dresses and shoes for famous performers in Eastern Europe.Worked for many magazines,as a writer,stylist and a photographer.Now writing for a jazz magazine that is covering European jazz scene `Jazzin`. And she`s soon finishing her third book with finishing recording her album with Poogie Bell for Warner Bros.

February 2011. she is on a tour in the states for a month recording her album with Poogie Bell and Jazzadelica, where she has a chance to perform for/with Ambrose Akinmusire, Rodney Kendrick, Poogie Bell, Sean Jones, Alex Han, Brandone McCune, Melonie Daniels, Nikki Ross, Lalah Hathaway, Christian McBride,Terence Blanchard, Casey Benjamin...and many more.Also recording with a well known producer and pianist Selan.

In the spring/summer 2011 her work with producer Shazalakazoo was published in a compliation `SWING DISOKTEKA` by a German Label EASTBLOK. After that she performed with Filip Bulatovic on tha national TV in Serbia,in a show that is showed live worldwide `MIRA ADANJA POLAK I VI`. And held a concert in a `Montaza Klub` with local musicians in Belgrade. Also performed at the Literature award show ( Fondation of Princess Olivera ). While performing and recording she also did interviews for Jazzin` magazine, Wannabe Magazine, and Elle style fashion magazine.

In June 2011, she performed at the Exit Festival, opening of Cinema City Movie Festival in Novi Sad Serbia, for around 10 000 people. Where she performed tracks from the CD she did with Medicine Man `Data Jazz` which is also the soundtrack of the whole festival. August 2011 she performs in Nis, at Nisville jazz festival where she helds a workshop for young ambitious vocalists and instrumentalists, and she there works with Jive Aces and Stanley Jordan.

In the beginning of September she was invited to perform at many festivals in Poland,where she also won some prizes. After which she started filming her video for a song `Stop` that is on her record `Data Jazz` with the producer Medicine Man published by Exit label. At the same time she was doing a main role in a documentary movie by German directors called `Balkan Spirit`, also the main role in a movie that National TV RTS is filming about her with the director Igor Simic. And last but not the least she is a part of the big project about Serbian jazz `Serbian jazz, Bre!` by Ivan Grlic, where she is talking about Serbian jazz music in his documentary and also is the youngest musician in his book and the photo exhibition. During the September 2011 she also had her pictures ,that she took in England ,published by a British media Pic Stop, and they invited her to do a photography competition next year.

In her singing you can hear a lot of influence from Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Charlie Parker, George Benson, Kim Burrell etc. She has a Bachelor Degree in Professional Jazz Singing Performance at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz,Austria from 2011. She is in New York,where she is continuing her educaton and working.

She is also still working in fashion organization, also managing bands, arranging for big bands, writing her own compositions.At the moment she is recording with Igor Lecic in Novi Sad,and forming new eastern-sounded bands with Igor Malesevic.Currently working with producers in New York too such as: Gregory Cox,Mylious Johnson,Poogie Bell,Selan,Cvija,Choda,Struka and others.

You can see her videos,photos and hear her singing on Google,YouTube, Myspace, Facebook etc